Armenian opposition activist charged over ‘public call for violence’

The founding leader of VETO, an anti-government civic group campaigning against the Soros-funded NGOs’ activity in Armenia, says he was charged over calls for public violence today after blasting the prime minister for the failures in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) war,

Narek Malyan took to Facebook shortly after leaving the Investigative Committee on Saturday afternoon to report that he was charged with Article 226.2 of the Criminal Code. He added that he was given a “written explanation”.

It comes after the activist chanted the slogan “Death to the Traitor” at a futuristic performance staged in Yerevan’s Baghramyan Avenue on Friday night. The show, entitled Ceausescu Execution or Death to Traitor, feigned the scenario of burning to death the former Romanian dictator and his spouse.

It was initially scheduled to take place ahead of a big rally on February 20 but was halted by the police in an effort to prevent Malyan from taking the necessary attributes to Liberty Square. The activist was later taken into custody.