Opposition politician accuses Pashinyan of waging vendetta against him
Opposition politician Armen Ashotyan claims Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ordered his detention to spread a climate of fear and wage a personal vendetta against him.
Ashotyan, a government critic and deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) who served as Armenia’s education minister from 2012-2016, was arrested on 16 June 2023 on charges of abuse of power and money laundering strongly denied by him as politically motivated.
“My arrest is a manifestation of Nikol Pashinyan's fears and urge for revenge,” he told reporters following a court hearing in his case on Thursday.
“Don't be surprised, He is a prime minister, I am an arrestee, however, he is jealous of his peers who have achieved a little more than him, even [former MP and special envoy] Edmon Marukyan,” Ashotyan added.