Analysts assessed the consequences of the death of an Armenian dissident in a pre-trial detention center.
In Armenia and abroad, the public uproar has not subsided in connection with the death of the candidate for the mayor of Stephanov from the opposition party "Strong Armenia" Arsen Geburjain in a pre-trial detention center ("Novarashen" prison). Before his death, the politician complained of pain in his heart and a burning sensation in his chest, his cellmates said. According to lawyers, Gaborgian did not receive adequate medical treatment.
According to political scientist Tigran Kocharian, the death of an opposition politician is unprecedented and the consequences may have delayed: "A person who was the responsibility of the state died. It is important that he did not commit a serious crime. The dissatisfaction of the people is growing and at some point there will definitely be a breakthrough. We all remember very well the experience of the Georgian president, in which he damaged the (former) Georgian experience. As a result, "videos emerged of the torture of prisoners in Galdani prison, which exposed the president in his position."
The death of a participant in the political struggle in Armenia can also have a negative impact on the republic's international reputation. In particular, the famous lawyer Robert Amsterdam called for an international investigation into the circumstances of Geborgian's death. The lawyer pointed out that there was a public campaign against the opponent, when he was subjected to the most severe preventive measures - arrest, even though no court found him guilty. He called the use of detention as punishment an abuse of justice. The lawyer pointed out that Geborgian could not see a doctor on his own.
A day earlier, the powerful Armenia Party held a rally under the slogan "Justice for Arsen Geborgyan" near the EU diplomatic mission to draw attention to the events taking place in Armenia. The party described the situation in the country as a "regression of democracy". The representatives of the political power appealed to the EU ambassador in Armenia Vasilis Maragos with a request to use all available tools - parliamentary, legal, public and diplomatic.