‘Absurdity’: Lawyer slams summons over Facebook post criticizing Armenian authorities

Yerevan — On 19 September 2023, renowned human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanyan, who passed away in February, posted a strongly worded critique of Armenia’s ruling regime on Facebook, titled “Death to Traitors”. Recently, a young woman named Ani Hakobyan was summoned to Armenia’s Investigative Committee simply for liking the post.

Following the incident, the number of people liking Ishkhanyan’s post has surged, with lawyer Yervand Varosyan among them.

“This is yet another absurdity. Legally, there’s nothing even to comment on. This is something psychologists should deal with,” Varosyan told Panorama.am in an interview on Monday.

He suggested the summons could be part of an effort to instill fear and exert control over the public.

“It might also reflect the eagerness of lower-level officials trying to prove their loyalty. There could be different motives behind it,” he added.

He also pointed out that the summons issued to Hakobyan cites no specific article of Armenia’s Criminal Code.

“The summons doesn’t even meet formal legal standards. It lacks key details. Under different circumstances, I’d find it hard to believe, but anything is possible in today’s Armenia,” he said.