Armenia’s HayaQve coordinator walks free after court ruling

An Armenian court has ordered the release of Avetik Chalabyan, coordinator of the opposition HayaQve initiative, overturning his detention as a preventive measure.

Judge David Balayan announced the decision, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“Having heard the positions of the parties regarding the change and extension of the preventive measure, the court decided to revoke the detention imposed as a preventive measure. The court finds that there is no need to apply any other preventive measure,” the judge said.

Chalabyan was detained on June 24 and charged with preparing to obstruct citizens’ exercise of their electoral rights. A court of general jurisdiction in Yerevan ordered his detention for two months on the same day.

On April 29, 2026, the Strong Armenia bloc, associated with Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, signed a memorandum of cooperation with the HayaQve initiative.

By Vafa Guliyeva