Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has criticized the excessive use of pretrial detention, saying the practice remains a serious problem requiring fundamental reforms.
Speaking during preliminary discussions on the draft 2027 state budget, Manasyan said some cases of deprivation of liberty raise legitimate concerns, Radar.am reported.
“The institution of detention is indeed being abused in Armenia, and I have spoken about this repeatedly,” she said.
According to Manasyan, the problem has persisted for decades despite repeated warnings and must be addressed through substantial reforms.
She stressed that criminal justice mechanisms should not be used for purposes other than those prescribed by law and should be reserved for cases involving the most serious threats to society.
Manasyan warned that without appropriate limits on their application, virtually anyone could become subject to criminal proceedings, citing a figure of 99.9% of Armenia’s population.
