Pashinyan critic goes on trial in Yerevan
A first instance court in Yerevan on Tuesday began the trial of Armine Adibekyan, an expert on Azerbaijan.
Adibekyan, who is critical of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government, has been charged with “inciting violence” on social media.
The case concerns her 2022 Facebook post, which says, "If Pashinyan does not resort to Hitler's last step, the fate of Goebbels awaits him.”
At today’s hearing, Adibekyan's attorney, Ruben Melikyan, requested the court to drop the charges against his client and end her prosecution under Article 12.1 of Armenia’s Criminal Procedure Code.
The lawyer argued that the “absurd” criminal case against Adibekyan was launched one year after she was charged.
"I am calling the judge's attention to this issue to protect human rights. A criminal prosecution was launched at the last moment, and after a few days the case went to the court. Is such a practice acceptable?" he said.