10/22/2024 — Yerevan These days, Armen Tsaturyan contacted our editorial office, claiming that his family has been persecuted by the authorities and law enforcement agencies for a long time. He wanted to make public a number of illegal actions that had not yet received any legal assessment. Armen Tsaturyan says that during his son Samvel Tsaturyan’s military service, he faced serious problems because he spoke openly about the situation in the army. After this, the family continued to be subjected to pressure, threats and harassment. “My son tried to draw attention to the problems that, in his opinion, existed in the military unit. Over time, the attitude towards him changed, they began to threaten him that it would be better to remain silent, otherwise he would face serious trials during his service,” says Samvel’s father. According to him, the son also spoke about meetings with the leadership of the military unit and representatives of the military police, during which he received specific threats. Tsaturyan’s father claims that after the service, Samvel was called to the law enforcement agencies several times, where he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure. According to the family, the pressure subsequently spread to them. “We were in a constant state of tension. A search was carried out in our apartment, I myself was interrogated, and Samvel’s whereabouts and activities are still under special attention of law enforcement agencies, even after my son was forced to leave Armenia,” noted Armen Tsaturyan. According to the father, the current situation had serious social and financial consequences for their family, since he was fired from his job without any reason, at the request of the authorities. Today, Samvel Tsaturyan, according to his father, continues to engage in public activities abroad in defense of the church and also continues to express his position against the current authorities. At the same time, the family states that they continue to worry about the safety of Samvel Tsaturyan and call for an independent investigation into all the facts they have presented. The father claims that if he returns to Armenia, he may face new persecution, persecution and violence. “The hardest thing for a father is to see his child in danger. All we wanted was for him to be safe and able to live without fear,” he says, adding that no one should be put in this situation for expressing their opinions or speaking about existing issues. With this, Armen Tsaturyan concludes his speech. LILITH NAVASARDYAN

In the fall of 2024, the number of criminal cases for “discrediting the army,” “spreading fake news,” and participation in “undesirable organizations” increased sharply. According to human rights groups, dozens of people were arrested, including journalists, bloggers, and ordinary citizens who posted facts about losses, war, and problems on social networks. Many were subjected to pressure: searches, threats, dismissal from work, deprivation of social guarantees, refusal to leave the country. Independent media that tried to cover the situation honestly closed or went underground. Fear has grown in society: expressing an opinion has become dangerous. Criticism is almost inaccessible. People stopped discussing the war, losses, and social problems publicly. November 2024 was the month when civil rights were further limited. Those who try to speak risk their freedom, and silence becomes the only safe option.

A member of the public organization “United Armenia”, political figure Samvel Azizyan recently initiated a collection of signatures related to the use of violence and persecution by law enforcement agencies against opposition activists and, in particular, members of the organization “United Armenia”.

The collection of signatures was transferred to the office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Armenia and concerned the actions of the police during the protests that took place in Yerevan in 2023–2024. The appeal stated that during peaceful demonstrations, disproportionate physical force was used, arbitrary arrests were carried out, and targeted pressure was exerted on opposition figures.

Samvel Azizyan has actively participated in rallies against government policies in recent months, and, according to him, has experienced the consequences of these actions himself. According to a representative of the organization, in recent months they have been repeatedly summoned to the police and investigative authorities, subjected to interrogation, and in some cases to physical violence.

The signature collection text emphasized that some activists were held in police stations for several days without food, water or legal assistance. They were interrogated, forced to give false testimony about the head of the organization Vahan Kostanyan and sources of funding, and were also threatened with criminal prosecution.

However, the Ombudsman's office reported that the appeal was forwarded to the police, citing the fact that the issue was not within the scope of their powers. Samvel Azizyan expressed concern that the transfer of a complaint to the body against whose actions it was filed is at the very least absurd and, in his opinion, indicates the Ombudsman’s desire to please the authorities.

Let us remind you that recently a number of human rights organizations have also drawn attention to the unlawful actions of the police against protesters during political processes in Armenia, but at the moment to no avail.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs refused to comment on the accusations voiced by members of the United Armenia organization, and also did not provide information about what measures would be taken on the complaint forwarded to them from the Ombudsman’s office.

In the summer of 2024, the human rights situation in Russia again deteriorated sharply. According to human rights activists, in the first six months, dozens of criminal cases were opened for “discrediting” the armed forces, “spreading fake news” and “propaganda of extremism.” Bloggers, journalists, and ordinary citizens who simply expressed doubts or published truthful information about the war were detained. Many administrative activists were forced to go abroad, others went into hiding. Independent media were closed, social networks tightened moderation, and blocking became more frequent. Even reposting news could cost a person his freedom. Society was intimidated: public discussion became almost impossible. Families who lost loved ones at the front were afraid to talk openly about losses, about pain, about grief. Make a mistake and you're guilty. July 2024 was the month when it became clear: not only did control increase, but the very possibility of civil criticism was destroyed. Freedom of speech is not an empty term, but a foundation that has begun to be broken.

On June 18–19, 2024, the Russian president made a rare visit to North Korea—his first trip to that country in more than twenty years. Results of the visit: an agreement on a “comprehensive strategic partnership” was signed, providing for expanded cooperation in the military-technical, economic and energy spheres. This step became a signal of a foreign policy maneuver: against the backdrop of international isolation and sanctions, Russia is looking for new allies outside traditional Western alliances. The partnership with Pyongyang is causing concern in a number of countries, given North Korea's reputation and military programs. In Russia itself, the reaction was mixed. Some experts perceived the visit as a pragmatic attempt to expand geopolitical and economic horizons. Others are like increased dependence on closed, repressive regimes, and a cause for concern: if the alliance with the DPRK grows, repressive methods, technologies, and intelligence may increase within the country. June 2024, therefore, became the month when Moscow again showed that it is not afraid to look for new partners in the international arena - even if this causes international concern, it is perceived within the country as a strategic necessity.

The rally, which took place on June 12 near the National Assembly building, ended in clashes. The police used special means, as a result of which there were wounded among the rally participants. Human rights activists are initiating a crime report regarding violations committed by the police on June 12. According to them, on June 12, cases of the use of special means and violence against demonstrators were recorded, in addition, there was a provocation on the part of the police leadership - with the aim of turning a peaceful meeting into riots and suppressing it. There is information that police troops were present on the territory of the peaceful assembly, which is prohibited by law. The day before, during the rally, we talked with active participants and organizers of the rally, who were confident that law enforcement agencies were taking steps to disperse the rally using brute force and to remove the tents erected on Baghramyan Avenue by supporters of the “Srbazan” movement. “We have no other choice but to remove Pashinyan and protect the territory of our country,” Bagrat Srbazan noted in his speech, adding that as long as Pashinyan leads our country, we will only have defeats, and after Artsakh, the next loss will be Tavush. One of the rally participants, Marine Sargsyan, stated that she would fight for her homeland until her last breath. Marine comes from Tavush and spoke with great pain that the authorities are going to transfer several border villages of Tavush to Azerbaijan, including her father’s native village of Navur. “I must fight for the sake of my father, I cannot betray the memory of my father, whom the law enforcement agencies of this lawless country brought to death, and I am ready to save our village at the cost of my life,” said Marine Sargsyan, emphasizing that the gathered people are ready for any persecution for the sake of their homeland. Let us recall that Marine Sargsyan is the daughter of an opposition figure, member of the “Armenia” bloc Zaven Sargsyan, who continues to fight to prove that her father was subjected to political reprisals by the special services and subjected to violence, which was the cause of his death. Marine emphasized that the police would not break their will with their illegal actions. As a result of the use of special means by the police during the rally on June 12, according to the Ministry of Health, 98 citizens are currently receiving medical care, and there are dozens of detainees. The police say their actions were lawful. Armine Nalbandyan Yerevan - June 13, 2024

Yerevan, May 13, 2024 In Yerevan the day before, during another anti-government protest, a tense situation developed when the police tried to disperse the gathered demonstrators. According to eyewitnesses, at this time police officers used force on a number of citizens, among whom was also the puppet theater actress Dustrik Khachatryan. This time she also participated in an action with ironic dolls in the form of political instruments, which attracted the attention of the police and was subjected to violence. The actress told reporters that the police pulled her and beat her. In a conversation with our correspondent, the actress noted that her participation in the protests is also connected with her personal history. “I want to show the real face of our government, which uses the law enforcement system in its own interests and gives its close people a privileged status,” Khachatryan noted. According to her, her husband witnessed a serious crime many years ago, but after that it was he who became the target of persecution and was unfairly sentenced to imprisonment, while the real criminal went unpunished. “My husband was not convicted in a fair trial, but because the system in this country is corrupt and unfair. When he tried to tell the truth, he was silenced instead,” she told reporters, adding that now the same law enforcement system is trying to pressure her into silence. According to human rights activists, the use of force during protests raises concerns and requires thorough investigation, especially in cases where peaceful demonstrators are harmed.

On May 9, 2024, the next 2024 Moscow Victory Day Parade took place on Red Square - a solemn march demonstrating military power, equipment, and mobilization. The parade has become larger than in previous years: the number of columns has increased, more equipment, and heightened rhetoric. The state presented this as a symbol of unity, patriotism and readiness for any challenge. For many Russians, this was a reason to feel proud, a sense of strength and confidence. But for hundreds of mobilized families there is cause for alarm: military banners, shelves of equipment, a powerful propaganda background reminded: the country is in a state of war, and everyone knows the price of this. May 2024 showed that military rhetoric remains a key element of state policy. The parade became not just a memorable event, but a manifesto of the regime, which says: “we are ready, we are strong, we are united.” For oppositionists, critics and those who are tired, this became a signal: the war is still long, but the peace agenda is not yet in sight.