'This restraining measure cost man his life': Armenia debates opposition figure’s death in prison
Смерть оппозиционера в исправительном учреждении Армении
Сегодня утром в одном из исправительных учреждений Армении скончался оппозиционер Арсен Геворгян. На выборах в органы местного самоуправления Геворгян был кандидатом на пост главы общины Степанаван от оппозиционной партии «Сильная Армения». Однако за несколько дней до выборов он был арестован по делу о подкупе избирателей.
Из исправительного учреждения не сообщили причину смерти заключенного. Медиа писали, что Геворгян, предположительно, скончался от инфаркта. Родственники заявили, что он никогда «не жаловался на проблемы со здоровьем».
Оппозиционная партия «Сильная Армения» возложила ответственность за смерть Арсена Геворгяна на власти, заявив, что его арест с «безосновательными обвинениями» был частью «кампании по очернению».
«Ответственность за смерть еще одного оппозиционного деятеля в тюрьме лежит на том, по чьему указанию сотни людей необоснованно дискредитируют и арестуют», — считают представители «Сильной Армении».
Правозащитники настаивают на проведении тщательного расследования обстоятельств смерти Арсена Геворгяна.
Эта тема активно обсуждается и в соцсетях. Часть пользователей считает арест оппозиционера неадекватно жесткой мерой пресечения, которая, возможно, и привела к смерти. В связи с этим, они возлагают ответственность за его смерть на власти Армении.
Степанаван был единственной общиной, где партия «Сильная Армения», возглавляемая пророссийским бизнесменом Самвелом Карапетяном, выдвинула своего кандидата на выборах в органы местного самоуправления. Арсена Геворгяна, претендовавшего на пост главы общины, задержали 21 октября – за четыре дня до выборов. В тот же день суд принял решение об аресте на два месяца. Согласно данным Антикоррупционного комитета, Геворгян подкупил несколько десятков избирателей, склоняя их проголосовать за партию «Сильная Армения». Сам он не признал предъявленные обвинения. А однопартийцы объявили о политическом преследовании.
Все подробности, известные к моменту публикации, а также комментарии из соцсетей.
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What the authorities have said
The Penitentiary Service said that Arsen Gevorgyan, born in 1980, who was being held at the Nubarashen penitentiary, suffered a sudden deterioration in his health early in the morning. The medical officer on duty administered first aid.
“An ambulance was called at around 07:55. At approximately 08:30, medical staff pronounced Arsen Gevorgyan dead,” the statement said.
The authorities also said that Gevorgyan had not complained about his health during his time in the facility.
Journalists asked Justice Minister Srbui Galyan today who would be held accountable if an investigation found that Gevorgyan had not received adequate medical care. Galyan did not answer the question. However, she confirmed that Gevorgyan had not complained about his health while in the penitentiary.
“Unfortunately, incidents like this happen both around the world and in penitentiary institutions,” the minister said, offering her condolences to Gevorgyan’s family.
According to Galyan, 20 inmates died in penitentiary institutions in 2025 and four in 2026.
The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into Arsen Gevorgyan’s death. A forensic medical examination will follow.
Human rights defender’s view
Daniel Ioannisyan, a human rights defender and coordinator of the NGO Union of Informed Citizens, says the authorities must conduct a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the circumstances of Arsen Gevorgyan’s death.
In particular, he wants answers to the following questions:
- “Did Gevorgyan have any chronic illnesses that he had reported to the prison administration?
- When did Gevorgyan’s health begin to deteriorate? When did he (or his cellmates) alert prison staff? How did the staff respond, and exactly what steps did they take, minute by minute?
- When did medical personnel learn about the problem, and what measures did they take, minute by minute?”
“The public should receive answers to these questions as soon as possible,” Ioannisyan wrote on his Facebook page.
Reactions on social media
Most comments on social media express outrage over the opposition politician’s death and the court’s decision to remand him in custody.
Here are some examples:
“Another political murder.”
“Look, the leader of Strong Armenia is to blame. He provided the money for distributing bribes during the election campaign. What does Nikol [Pashinyan] have to do with it?”
“Far more dangerous criminals are walking free, while they jailed a man for offering a bribe. They could have simply placed him under house arrest.”
“Pre-trial detention was clearly a disproportionate measure. And this measure cost a man his life. Where could he have fled from your so-called justice? And who can actually escape your justice – assuming it even exists?”
“The state is responsible for the life of anyone in its custody. And the head of state is Nikol Pashinyan. Nikol, this happened under your system. You must answer for it: what condition was the man in, did he receive medical care, and why did a man whose guilt a court had not established die in prison?”
“This is another stark reminder of the tragic consequences that political persecution can bring. We demand a full, independent and impartial investigation into all the circumstances surrounding his death.”
Death of opposition politician in Armenian prison
