No one is arrested in our country for freedom of speech: Galyan (Video)

“No one is being arrested in our country for exercising freedom of speech,” said RA Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan told Aysor.am. She made the remarks in response to recent comments by Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, who noted that some arrests give the impression of a dual standard regarding freedom of expression in Armenia.

According to Galyan, individuals are detained only for actions that are criminally punishable.

“That is, there may be a statement or speech that constitutes a criminal offense, and this is regulated under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia,” she explained.

When asked about opposition claims that the case of Narek Samsonyan involved persecution for the use of the word “buttocks,” Galyan responded: “I don’t know what the oppositionists are saying, and it’s not particularly interesting what they’re saying.”