28 Jan 2020 15:28

Another opposition leader detained in Armenia, activists gather near police HQ in Yerevan

YEREVAN. Jan 28 (Interfax) - Armenian police have detained Adekvad opposition movement leader Artur Danielyan and another member of the movement, Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan.

Leader of the opposition public and political movement VETO Narek Malyan was detained earlier on Tuesday.

"Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan has just been detained. Artur Danielyan was also detained upon return to Armenia from [Nagorno-] Karabakh," head of the non-governmental organization Civil Consciousness Narek Samsonyan told reporters on Tuesday.

The press service of the Armenian police told Interfax earlier today that the VETO opposition movement leader had been detained on suspicion of possession of weapons.

"Officers of the main department of the criminal police service detained Narek Malyan on suspicion of illegally possessing and carrying weapons," the press service said.

Meanwhile, activists have gathered outside the police headquarters in Yerevan, claiming that the Armenian authorities have detained opposition members in an attempt to exert pressure on the opposition.

Malyan is known in Armenia for his opposition to the activities of George Soros' Open Society Foundations in the country.

Malyan served as an advisor to chief of the Armenian police Vladimir Gasparyan before Nikol Pashinyan became the country's prime minister.