There Are No Political Prisoners in Armenia, Says Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan

YEREVAN — There are no political prisoners in Armenia, and this assessment has also been reflected in a report by the relevant committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Armenia’s Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan stated.

“I reiterate once again that there are no political prisoners in our country. Recent reports published by European institutions contain no references to political prisoners, and that in itself is very telling,” the minister said.

According to Galyan, holding political views or engaging in political activity cannot exempt an individual from responsibility for a possible criminal offense.

“One cannot hide behind political views or status, commit a crime, and then speak of political persecution. Being involved in politics does not mean that one’s actions must automatically be given a political interpretation,” she emphasized.

The minister added that investigations into existing criminal cases are ongoing and that only the courts can deliver final judgments.

“Until there is a court ruling, personal or political conclusions have no decisive significance. Investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial bodies are carrying out their work, and individuals holding political office cannot be held responsible for the actions of those bodies,” Srbuhi Galyan said.