EU faces lawsuit threat over “undermining democracy” in Armenia: Amsterdam

Robert Amsterdam, international lawyer, wrote on social media that the EU faces a lawsuit threat over “undermining democracy” in Armenia.

“Brussels ignored mass detentions, attacks on the Church, and election fraud while supporting Armenia’s Prime Minister. Armenia’s PM failed to secure a majority, despite EU interference. The European Union may face legal liability for its support of Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Amsterdam & Partners LLP argues that Brussels helped legitimize a government that is undermining democratic institutions and basic human rights.

In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the firm, acting as representative of opposition leader Samvel Karapetyan, argues that the EU has provided unconditional political support to Mr. Pashinyan despite a sustained campaign against political opponents, religious institutions, and independent figures.

The letter notes that hundreds of politically motivated arrests have been made under the current government, and that the EU continued to support Pashinyan while being well aware of growing concerns regarding the treatment of opposition figures, clergy, and civil society critics. The firm states that the EU turned a blind eye to the government’s campaign against one of the country’s most important national institutions, the Armenian Apostolic Church, while continuing to present Armenia as a democratic success story.

Brussels failed to uphold its own legal obligations and democratic standards by legitimizing elections the results of which are still being contested in the Constitutional Court, and by refusing to apply the same rigorous scrutiny it typically requires in other countries,” Amsterdam noted.

According to him, Brussels cannot claim the role of democracy’s defender while ignoring these violations and refusing to seriously heed the voices of the opposition. The EU’s actions have helped shield this government from accountability. “Under the pretext of countering Russian interference, Ms. von der Leyen has led a campaign marked by interference, double standards, and damage to the rule of law. The European Union’s conduct undermines every principle it claims to uphold and threatens Armenia’s very existence,” the lawyer added.