Arthur Osipyan, chairman of the Artsakh Revolutionary Party, who was detained after an argument with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Arabkir, has been placed under arrest.
The Investigative Committee said criminal prosecution has been launched against Osipyan on charges of public calls for violence, hooliganism and obstructing election campaigning.
“Factual data were obtained indicating that A.O., on March 22, 2026, using information and communication technologies through his Facebook account and motivated by political views, made public posts that intentionally contained public calls for violence directed at the Prime Minister of Armenia.
In addition, after learning about election campaigning planned for May 18, 2026, in the Arabkir administrative district by the Prime Minister of Armenia and other members of the Civil Contract party, A.O., with the aim of obstructing their campaigning activities, made a publication on his personal Facebook account and then arrived at the courtyard of building 7 on Vratsakan Street in the Arabkir district. Exploiting the public nature of the campaign event and the presence of numerous citizens gathered there, he obstructed the normal course of the election campaign.
Afterwards, A.O. demonstrated overt disrespect toward society and contempt for legal and moral norms by shouting insults and obscene expressions, ignoring calls from those gathered to respect and observe rules of coexistence, thereby disrupting public order,” the statement said.
During the preliminary investigation, public criminal prosecution was initiated against A.O. under Article 330, Part 2, Point 3 of the Criminal Code (public calls for violence, public justification or promotion of violence, as well as distribution of materials or objects for that purpose), Article 297, Part 1 (hooliganism), and Article 211, Part 1 (coercing participation or refusal to participate in campaigning, or otherwise obstructing campaigning).
During campaigning in Yerevan’s Arabkir district, Osipyan asked Nikol Pashinyan about Armenia’s security and demands put forward by Azerbaijan, noting that Baku raises the issue of returning Azerbaijani refugees on international platforms. Pashinyan reacted sharply, accusing Osipyan of spreading “Azerbaijani narratives.” The situation later escalated, and Pashinyan used harsh language while urging Osipyan to leave.
