The Supreme Body of the ARF issued the following statement today. (Unoffical translation) 

Armenia is in a momentous phase. The authorities have exposed the country to serious internal and external threats. Instead of confronting the challenges that undermine our statehood with national unity, the authorities have intensified their reprisals against political forces, silencing their opponents in violation of their rights, dividing the public, responding to criticism only with vengeance and personal insults, and using all possible means to continue its agenda of political persecution and retaliation.

The political authorities have fully involved the RA Prosecutor's Office in this matter, the obvious evidence of which is the process of initiating disciplinary proceedings against judges who have not fulfilled the government's political orders.

The hasty decision to detain the Prosperous Armenia Party leader is one of the manifestations of the vicious course of the authorities, which is an attempt to intensify the atmosphere of fear, to divert public mood from the failures of the ruling regime in all spheres. This vicious practice of the authorities is unacceptable and condemnable. We demand an end to the ongoing political persecution and a change in the measure of restraint illegally applied to Gagik Tsarukyan.

If the political persecution of the opposition political forces and opponents is not stopped, the ruling party bears all the responsibility for the repercussions.

The ARF, along with like-minded political forces, will continue the work of uniting the society around the national-state agendas.

P.S. The tri-body initiated nationwide rally on October 8 is the most important milestone in the formation of a new class of government.

We are convinced that it is possible to resist the obvious threats to our statehood through public consolidation.