YEREVAN. – The governing council of the parliamentary opposition Bright Armenia Party made a statement on Sunday’s events related to parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan. The statement reads as follows, in particular:

"We condemn the political influence and control over any criminal prosecution.

(…) the use of legal proceedings, as well as the use of blackmail, compromising materials as a political tool to silence, suppress opponents is unacceptable and reprehensible.

Political influence over law enforcement destroys the legitimacy of criminal prosecution.

The abovementioned clearly shows that criminal prosecution takes place under political interference and control.

The Bright Armenia Party strongly condemns the carrying out of criminal prosecution, the selective application of the law—stemming from political expediency.

We call on the authorities to engage in the fight against the [COVID-19] pandemic and managing the deteriorating socioeconomic situation, leaving the criminal prosecution to solely to law enforcement.”