Armenia's rights commission probes detention of Gagik Tsarrukyan and Spartak Ghukasyan

Opposition party leader Gagik Tsarrukyan was arrested on 6 July 2026 and placed in a penal institution in Yerevan. Video released by the Human Rights Defender showed the use of a handcuff that was allegedly too tight and physical force that exceeded what was necessary. The Ombudsman's office, led by Anahit Manasyan, ordered a rapid response; officials visited the “Yerevan‑Center” facility on 8 July, interviewed Tsarrukyan, inspected his health and detention conditions, and stressed that any restraint must meet legal, necessary and proportional standards.

In a separate case, Spartak Ghukasyan, the son of Vardan Ghukasyan, was initially ordered into solitary confinement but the Appeals Court later changed the measure, releasing him from the “special regime” prison and imposing a home‑restraint instead. He remains under solitary confinement while the court decision is implemented. The case stems from accusations made in November 2025 involving alleged misuse of information‑technology tools under criminal code article 297.

Both instances have drawn criticism from Armenia’s human‑rights watchdog, which called for strict compliance with national and European legal standards on the use of physical restraints and detention conditions.