YEREVAN. – If a criminal case has been filed, let them prove it and punish the perpetrators because rallies are [currently] forbidden. Ani Samsonyan, a member of the opposition Bright Armenia faction in the National Assembly, stated this in a talk with journalists in the parliament Monday, referring to the remark that a criminal case has already been initiated on parliamentary opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader, MP, and business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan's supporters' demonstration Sunday, as rallies are currently prohibited in the country under the current state of emergency in Armenia due to the COVID-19 situation.

"And if they say that there was a rally, then there is a need for a procedure for a rally. (...). But it is not forbidden to protest on the street. In general, when the right to assembly is banned, it cannot be restricted at all because it is a fundamental human right. (...) I see a selective approach here, and it's very bad," she added, in particular.

And asked whether Bright Armenia will work together with the PAP and jointly fight against the incumbent authorities, Ani Samsonyan responded: "We do not have such an agenda at the moment."