Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan openly stated his desire to prevent the pro-Russian opposition party "Strong Armenia" and the "Armenia" bloc from entering parliament in the 2026 elections. He accused the opposition members of simulating work and coming to parliament only to collect salaries. These remarks came amid the arrests of representatives of "Strong Armenia" on charges of vote-buying.
Doctoral student at Istanbul University, economist Fazil Gasimov has been on a hunger strike in Baku pre-trial detention center No. 1 for 25 days. He protests against illegal criminal prosecution.
“Fazil said that he would either go on hunger strike until the end, or he would be released. We are very worried about him. We don’t want to lose him,” said the prisoner’s brother Nazim Gasimov.
Fazil Gasimov was detained on August 7, 2023. He was charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code (production, acquisition or sale of counterfeit money as part of an organized group). The investigation believes that he handed over counterfeit money to opposition politician and economist Gubad Ibadoglu, who is currently in custody.
Recently, Gasimov, in his address to the chief prosecutor, the ombudsman, the local and international community, stated that he gave confessions under torture. He clarified that he did not give Ibadoglu any money.