The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction has accepted the criminal case regarding unified candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for Prime Minister of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan for proceedings, the Judicial Information System reported, adding that the criminal case was inscribed to Judge Vahe Misakyan on March 17 and that the court accepted the case for proceedings the next day.

Manukyan is charged with making public calls for seizing power, violating territorial integrity and overthrowing the constitutional order by force, and a signature to not leave the country has been applied as a pre-trial measure.

The charge brought against him has been supplemented with the calls that Manukyan made during the February 26 rally held on Marshal Baghramyan Avenue in Yerevan which, according to the Investigative Committee, also contain calls to seize power and overthrow the constitutional order by force.

Manukyan doesn’t accept the charge and considers it political persecution.