Jailing People for Opinions is Unacceptable: MEP in Yerevan

"Finally, Armenia is aspiring to be a candidate for EU membership, and attention should also be paid to internal problems." This was stated by Nacho Sánchez Amor, a Spanish Member of the European Parliament and the permanent rapporteur on Turkey, during the meeting of the Euronest PA Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy.

He clarified that he was not talking about opening the border with Turkey, but about what is happening in Armenia. "I have not come to judge you, but people are being arrested by 20-40 police officers. If, for example, it is for a bribe, it is different, but when they are judged for their opinion, for an opinion expressed on social networks, be careful, be cautious, this is unacceptable," he noted.

"The fact that people can be arrested for writing something on social networks is already a method. In a democracy, not even one person can be imprisoned for their opinion, for example, 'let's go to Istanbul.' You should not send police officers. Of course, the person must appear in court, but one should not condemn and conclude that he is a dangerous person based only on his opinion. The Armenian authorities should be attentive to these issues if you aspire to be an EU candidate country," the MEP said.

"First, let's send them to prison, then let's see what happens. Be aware of such cases, because we have studied these cases very deeply," the Spanish MEP added.