Blogger Artak Avetisyan case reclassified

ArmInfo.The case of blogger Artak Avetisyan, who called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan a  traitor on live television and was subsequently arrested, has been reclassified from inciting hatred to hooliganism. Lawyer Ruben Melikyan announced this live on his Facebook page.

"As you may recall, Avetisyan was arrested under the article on  inciting hatred. Now, the investigator has announced that the case  has been reclassified as hooliganism. This article has become a  favorite tool of the current authorities in cases where there are no  grounds for bringing other charges. Interestingly, not a single  statement by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has yet been  considered hooliganism, while any critical statements directed at him  by his opponents are often classified as such," Melikyan emphasized.

Meanwhile, as the lawyer noted, they had previously witnessed what  truly constitutes "hate speech," recalling the dialect Pashinyan used  on May 18 during the election campaign when communicating with  citizens who expressed dissatisfaction with his policies.

The lawyer also stated that the first court hearing is expected to  take place after the June parliamentary elections in Armenia, from  June 8 to 10. He also noted that the blogger has two minor children,  and his wife is expecting their fourth child. "If Pashinyan's words  aren't considered hate speech, then essentially any statements can't  be considered in this context. It's illegal and undemocratic. Today,  there's not a day when people aren't detained on political charges,  and the courts are overloaded," Melikyan concluded.

As a reminder, the blogger was arrested on May 12 and given a  two-month remand after criticizing Pashinyan's policies and calling  him a traitor. Investigators previously charged Avetisyan with public  statements aimed at inciting or spreading hatred, discrimination,  intolerance, or hostility, as well as disseminating materials or  objects for this purpose using publicly displayed works, media, or  information and communications technology. This charge carries a  prison sentence of 3 to 6 years. Notably, weeks earlier, the blogger  published footage of discarded humanitarian aid sent to the Armenian  army, apparently during the 44-day war in 2020 around Artsakh.