Seven ARF Members Arrested as Pashinyan Intensifies Crackdown on Opposition

In recent weeks, Armenia is witnessing ongoing arrests and raids that are a dangerous shift away from democracy. Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the government has begun treating dissent not as a sign of a healthy democracy, but as a threat to be crushed. The latest victims are young members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF, also known as Dashnaktsutyun), an opposition party with deep historic roots in Armenian identity and national struggle.

On July 10, seven ARF youth activists were detained by Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) in coordinated early morning raids. Among them were Taron Manukyan, the son of opposition MP Gegham Manukyan, and Arsen Martoyan, a member of the ARF Yerevan Committee. Homes of other prominent ARF figures were also raided, including that of Vahagn Matinyan, Chief of Staff to the ARF Supreme Body.

Authorities claim they found explosives and military equipment. But the photographs released by law enforcement tell a different story: civilian items like boots, wires, and legally registered firearms, along with a youth camp T-shirt bearing the slogan “Freedom or Death.” These were presented as evidence of a terrorist plot — a claim dismissed by lawyers and party leaders as absurd and politically motivated.

Only one of the detained activists, Andranik Chamichyan, was formally charged with “preparation of terrorism.” His lawyer, Ruben Melikyan, explained that the so-called explosive devices were actually part of “strikeball” — a sport similar to paintball involving simulated combat. The lawyer was denied access to his client, a clear violation of Armenian law and due process.

Even more troubling is the seizure of MP Gegham Manukyan’s personal phone — a blatant breach of parliamentary immunity. No explanation has been given. The message from the authorities is clear: not even elected officials are safe from government overreach.

This crackdown comes at a time when Prime Minister Pashinyan is making dangerous political moves behind closed doors. Just as these arrests were unfolding, he was meeting Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Abu Dhabi. Pashinyan has repeatedly signaled a willingness to make concessions to Azerbaijan — often at the cost of Armenia’s security and dignity. The ARF and the Armenian Apostolic Church have been vocal in resisting these unilateral decisions, and now they are paying the price.

In the eyes of many Armenians, these arrests are not about national security. They are about silencing criticism, dismantling organized opposition, and neutralizing the Church — one of the few remaining institutions with the power to challenge the government’s authority. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, who has become a symbol of protest against Pashinyan’s rule, remains in jail, along with Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. They are all facing vague terrorism-related charges rooted in selectively edited wiretaps and distorted accusations.

When church leaders are imprisoned, youth activists are labeled terrorists, lawyers are denied access to detainees, and elected officials are raided in their homes, this is no longer democracy. This is state repression dressed up as law enforcement.

The government’s behavior has sent a chilling message to the Armenian people: political dissent will not be tolerated. Peaceful protests, church-led resistance, and youth engagement — all cornerstones of civic life — are now treated as crimes.

The ruling party has even begun publicly discussing a ban on the ARF, a party that has existed for over a century and stood at the heart of the Armenian liberation movement. Every youth member arrested this week is part of a civic-political organization that has long defended Armenian sovereignty, history, and values. Now, under Pashinyan’s rule, they are treated as enemies of the state.

These recent developments point to a disturbing pattern. Instead of building consensus or respecting pluralism, the government is choosing to rule by fear. Instead of protecting Armenian heritage, it is attacking the Church. Instead of uniting the country against external threats, it is dividing the people and punishing those who dare to speak out.

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