Armenian oppositionist Danielyan was arrested due to publications on social media
The founder of the political association "Adekvad" Arthur Danielyan was summoned for questioning regarding his publications on social media, and in the evening the court arrested him on charges of hooliganism.
Arthur Danielyan was summoned to the Investigative Committee of Armenia on the morning of October 7. The oppositionist reported that they plan to bring some charges against him, the details of which he does not yet know.
“A case has been initiated against me, they are going to bring charges. I do not know what it is about, and it does not matter. If I leave the investigator's office, I will comment on all this live,” the activist wrote on his Facebook page.
Danielyan expressed confidence that the case is “fabricated.” He linked the persecution to his old publications and some “campaign” that he believes is organized from Azerbaijan.
“They took my old speeches, translated them, and spread them. For the last three days, I have been threatened with reprisals in comments and personal messages, and this case is that very reprisal. Local executors received orders from Baku and are carrying them out,” he stated.
After the questioning at the Investigative Committee, Danielyan did not regain his freedom. Lawyer Tigran Atanesyan reported that law enforcement arrested the activist. Later, he informed that the court sent the leader of “Adekvad” into custody for two months.
According to the lawyer, Arthur Danielyan is charged with hooliganism committed using information technologies (part 2, article 297 of the Criminal Code of Armenia). This article provides for up to five years of imprisonment. The Investigative Committee of Armenia has not published official statements regarding the oppositionist's case.
Atanesyan called the charges “ridiculous.” According to the lawyer, the criminal case was initiated back in August. “Initially, the charge concerned one post on social media, later the number of posts mentioned in the case reached six, and the investigation also added a charge regarding a “discrediting SNB” post on Facebook,” writes Armenia.Today, citing the lawyer.
The publication notes that against the backdrop of the incident in the village of Shaki in the Syunik region, where an armed Armenian soldier attacked a family with children and injured a local resident, Danielyan published posts on social media criticizing the authorities.
On October 2, a court in Armenia arrested Azerbaijani serviceman Nasimi Musaev for two months, who was detained on October 1 after the incident in the village of Shaki in the Syunik region. According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia, Musaev entered a house and opened fire, injuring a 38-year-old woman, and medical assistance was also required for her two children. A criminal case has been initiated against Musaev on five articles, including illegal border crossing, illegal arms trafficking, violation of the inviolability of the home, and causing serious harm to health.
"Caucasian Knot" reported that the "Adekvad" movement was formed after the "velvet" revolution of 2018. Its founders were former ally of Pashinyan Arthur Danielyan and former advisor to the head of the Republican Police Narek Malyan. They sharply criticized Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his team.
Arthur Danielyan has been repeatedly detained. In particular, he was detained several times during protests demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in November 2020, when Armenia agreed with Russia and Azerbaijan to cease hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, during which Danielyan spent some time in a detention center.
In April 2020, Danielyan fought on the street with the Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan. Simonyan claimed that he greeted Danielyan, but in response heard profanity, and then hit the oppositionist in the nose with his head. On May 20 of the same year, 17 of his supporters were detained during a rally in support of Danielyan.
On January 28, 2020, Arthur Danielyan and Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan were detained by the police on suspicion of illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. They broadcast their detention live on Facebook. "Adekvad" activists reported the use of brute force and called the detention political pressure. That same day, the activists were released.