Wings of Unity party condemns PAP leader`s detention

ArmInfo. The Wings of Unity party, led by former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, issued a statement strongly condemning the criminal prosecution of Gagik Tsarukyan,  leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party.

According to a statement on the political party's Facebook page, the  criminal prosecution of Tsarukyan and the actions of law enforcement  agencies are the result of a political directive from Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan. The party asserts that the authorities have had  grounds for the current legal proceedings for several months, but  they have been implemented now for political expediency. The  political party recalled Pashinyan's threats against Tsarukyan during  the parliamentary election campaign.

Wings of Unity believes that the anti-crime mechanism is being used  to further the interests of the current government, noting that the  system of checks and balances has effectively ceased to function in  the country.  "Such a practice contradicts the principles of  democracy and the rule of law. The Wings of Unity party strongly  condemns this dangerous practice of using the law enforcement system  for political purposes and declares that such a process is an attack  not only on a specific individual or political force, but also on the  constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia, the foundations of  the rule of law, and the freedoms of citizens," the party added.

On July 6, the Investigative Committee of Armenia announced the  initiation of a public criminal prosecution against Gagik Tsarukyan  on charges of organizing fraud and money laundering on an especially  large scale. According to investigators, these crimes allegedly  occurred between 2022 and 2024.  On July 6, Tsarukyan was detained,  and his home and several businesses associated with him were  searched. Following this, a dozen opposition political forces issued  statements in his support, calling the events politically motivated.