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Armenia’s selective prosecution: A threat to EU relations?
Armenian civil society groups say authorities are selectively prosecuting opposition figures over critical remarks, raising concerns about democratic backsliding. The cases put pressure on the EU to balance its efforts to build closer ties with Armenia against scrutiny of possible restrictions on dissent.
Opposition leader Artur Danielyan was arrested in October after Facebook posts attacking Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan; another activist, Artur Osipyan, was charged after a clash with Pashinyan and a social media post. A 2025 Freedom House report found that nearly 95% of cases under a criminal code provision on incitement to violence involved alleged threats against Pashinyan or his supporters. The supplied article text ends before explaining Brussels’ response.
In short
- Civil society groups warn of selective prosecution in Armenia.
- Opposition figures face charges linked to criticism and social media posts.
- The cases raise questions about the EU’s approach to Armenia.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If prosecutions are being applied selectively to shield the prime minister and his supporters from criticism, that would undermine equal treatment before the law and chill legitimate dissent. The reported concentration of cases involving alleged threats against Pashinyan or his supporters gives civil society reason to seek scrutiny, while the EU’s closer engagement could offer leverage to support democratic standards in Armenia.
The case against
Authorities have a responsibility to investigate credible threats and violence, including when they arise from political speech or confrontations, and charges alone do not establish improper motive. The reported figures do not by themselves show whether comparable cases were treated differently or whether the allegations met the legal threshold; the EU could therefore favour careful, evidence-based engagement that supports Armenia’s ties while seeking transparent and consistent enforcement.