Demand for the release of Artur Osipyan addressed to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, Anna Vardapetyan.

We, the undersigned civil society organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the ongoing criminal prosecution and detention of Artur Osipyan, which is clearly unlawful, unfounded, and politically motivated, and which is being used as a form of punishment.

On May 18, 2026, during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s election campaign activities and interactions with citizens on the streets of Yerevan, Artur Osipyan, a forcibly displaced person from Artsakh, approached the Prime Minister, began publicly asking pointed questions, and expressed his views regarding the negotiation process of the Artsakh conflict and developments in Artsakh. The exchange gradually became highly emotional for both sides, after which the Prime Minister responded with insulting and derogatory remarks directed at Osipyan.

Artur Osipyan was swiftly removed from the area by the police and arrested. According to an official statement by the Investigative Committee of Armenia, a criminal proceeding was initiated against Osipyan on charges of hooliganism, obstruction of an election campaign, and public calls for violence. Furthermore, by a decision of the Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan, a two-month pre-trial detention was imposed as a preventive measure, along with restrictions on visits and communication with the outside world.

Artur Osipyan’s questions and expressed concerns, including his other public actions, his engagement with issues of public importance, and his post on social media, fall within the scope of protection of the right to freedom of expression as critical speech, while the subsequent actions taken against him constitute an abuse of power and an attempt to silence a citizen through authoritarian means.

The criminal prosecution initiated and the pre-trial detention imposed are contrary to Armenia’s human rights obligations and pose a serious threat to the protection of democratic freedoms, political pluralism, and freedom of expression in Armenia. Such practices significantly undermine the independence, public reputation, and credibility of the law enforcement system.

We are deeply concerned about Artur Osipyan’s health condition, as he has been on a hunger strike for 15 days and, according to his lawyer, is already significantly weakened. Moreover, he is being held in the Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution in a damp cell without sunlight, which contradicts internationally recognized standards for the treatment of individuals on hunger strike and raises well-founded concerns regarding inhuman treatment of Artur Osipyan.

Taking into account the above, as well as the guarantees for the protection of human rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the requirements arising from the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, and the internationally assumed human rights obligations, including the imperative to ensure freedom of expression, the right to liberty, and the right not to be subjected to inhuman treatment, we demand.

From the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, Anna Vardapetyan:

• To immediately lift the preventive measure of detention imposed on Artur Osipyan.
• To terminate the criminal prosecution against him, ensuring all his fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed.

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Human Rights Research Center

Community Mobilization Consolidation and Support Center NGO

Helsinki Association for Human Rights NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Transparency International Anticorruption Center NGO

Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly

Dignity NGO

Armenian Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly

Regional Centre for Democracy and Security

Foundation for Democracy Development

Armenian Progressive Youth NGO

Public Journalism Club

New Culture of Justice NGO

Journalists for Human Rights NGO

Urban Imagination Sociological Research Laboratory NGO

Armenian Climate Justice Initiative   “We” Youth NGO of Lori region

Rights Center NGO

Progress of Gyumri CSDC NGO

MITK NGO

Vardan Harutyunayan, human rights defender

Oleg Dulgaryan, human rights defender, environmentalist

Artur Papyan, Yerevan Press Club

Boris Navasardyan, Yerevan Press Club

Nouneh Sargsyan, media expert

Inga Zarafyan, Ecolour NGO

Gegham Baghdasaryan, Stepanakert Media Club

Susanna Shahnazaryan, Goris LAB

Mariam Chakhoyan, Tukhmanuk NGO

Misak Khostikyan, architect

Narine Abgaryan, writer

Lala Aslikyan, RA citizen

Iszabella Sargsyan, human rights defender

Sarine Hayriyan, journalist

Artur Grigoryan, environmental lawyer

Siranush Gasparyan, opera singer

Apres Zohrabyan, orientalist

Melina Nadaryan, lawyer

Anna Pambukchyan, media expert

Karine Harutyunyan, journalist

Arman Karakhanyan, photographer

Ashot Khachatryan, RA citizen

Shogher Matevosyan, journalist

Hasmik Simonyan, poet

Nare Shavinyan, journalist

Zara Budaghyan, RA citizen

Ester Hakobyan, RA citizen

Gayane Shagoyan, cultural anthropologist

Aram Gasparyan, historian

Ararat Zoryan, photographer

Tatevik Poghpatyan, anthropologist

Ruzanna Khachatryan, journalist

Nazenik Saroyan, journalist

Ruzanna Bagratunyan, RA citizen

Karen Tovmasyan, journalist

Lyudmila Barseghyan, RA citizen

Naira Sahakyan, Historian and Islamic Studies Scholar

Gagik Karapetyan, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Programmer

Tatevik Tatulyan, sociologist

Zaruhi Muradyan, artist

Hakob Tchagharyan, commander pilot

Ruben Malayan, artist

Sona Gevorgayn, sociologist

Narine Gizhlaryan, translator, editor

Rob Manukyan, translator, journalist, editor

Marina Hovsepyan, architect

Eviya Hovhannisyan, social anthropologist

Davit Matevosyan, director of Hrant Matevosyan Foundation

Arshavir Ghukasyan, RA citizen

Gevorg Makhsudyan, engineer

Natalya Tsaturyan, medical doctor

Arevik Sargsyan, RA citizen

Irina Avetisyan, translator

Haykaz Avetisyan, IT expert

Margarita Avetisyan, ordinator surgeon

Ruben Muradyan, Cybersecurity expert

Meri Musinyan, journalist

Ovsanna Yeghoyan, RA citizen

Ani Gevorgyan, photographer

Serine Aghabekyan, RA citizen

Anush Shahramanyan, lawyer

Melanya Tsarukyan, journalist

Carolina Sahakyan, orientalist, specialist in turkic studies

Hayk Nazaryan, IT consultant, Germany

Artur Atayan, musician

Khachatur Avetisyan, public health specialist

Irina Grigoryan, teacher

Ashot Gharagyozyan, RA citizen

Valen Hovsepian, phylologist, YSU

Davit Mheryan, RA citizen

Kristine Armenakyan, journalist

Anna Nikoghosyan, feminist scholar

Svetlana Galstyan, teacher

Elza Arakelyan, teacher

Ashot Melkonyan, artist

Ruzan Kazaryan, environmentalist

Levon Chukaklyan, political scientist

Jivan Nadaryan, lawyer

Styopa Asryan, public health specialist

Hasmik Mkhitaryan, journalist

Harutyun Tsatryan, journalist

Tigran Zakaryan, historian

Vahe Khachikyan, RA citizen

Luiza Simonyan, teacher

Andranik Grigoryan, political scientist