Lawyer: UN expert group on the "Sacred Struggle" movement recognizes  109 people as victims of repression by Armenian authorities

ArmInfo. The UN expert group on the "Sacred Struggle" movement has recognized at least 109 people as  victims of repressive actions by the state apparatus.  Lawyer Tatevik Soghoyan wrote this on her Facebook page.

She recalled their previous promise to appeal to international bodies  regarding this case. "Do you remember when I said this case would be  recognized as the most disgraceful in the history of Armenian  justice? Well, here is the first result of eight months of meticulous  and relentless work. Out of the 19 appeals ever filed against  Armenia, this is the most shameful, the most severe, and the most  humiliating in terms of human rights compliance and international  law," Soghoyan noted.

She clarified that the appeal presented a timeline of the political  persecution of the "Sacred Struggle" movement representatives, as  well as the broader context of the events, including those of June 12  (clashes between protesters and police, who used stun grenades –  ed.). The primary focus of the appeal, she stated, was on the case of  the 18 movement representatives and the absurdity of the "terrorism"  charges brought against them.

"Nevertheless, the UN expert group made not only the specific case of  the 18 movement supporters the subject of its review, but also the  entire general context, recognizing at least 109 people as victims of  the state apparatus's repressive actions," the lawyer emphasized.  Specifically, according to Soghoyan, the expert group noted the  following: "We express concern over the measures taken by the  authorities, which do not align with Armenia's international human  rights obligations." 

"Well, enjoy the recognition of your dictatorship. The worst is yet  to come. And our government's responses to the UN evoke nothing but a  sense of Spanish shame," the lawyer concluded.

Recall, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan launched a broad  anti-church campaign in May 2025, demanding the resignation of  Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. As part of this campaign,  several members of the clergy were detained. On June 25, 18  opposition figures and supporters of the "Sacred Struggle" movement,  led by the movement's leader, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, were  taken into custody. They are accused of attempting to "seize power"  and "terrorism." Recordings of conversations between movement members  are cited as evidence of their guilt.