Lawyers for Artur Vanetsyan, the former director of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) and leader of the Homeland Party, today reported that their client was re-arrested today after being summoned to the NSS Investigation Department.

The lawyers say Vanetsyan was arrested on suspicion of violating the following articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code: Article 235. Illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices; Article 300. Usurping state power; Article 305. Assassination of a state, political or public figure.

Earlier today, according lawyers Lusineh Sahakyan and Yervand Varosyan, NSS employees searched the house of Vanetsyan’s parents.

They labelled the arrest and search further proof of a wave of political and anti-nationalist persecution in Armenia.

Vanestyan’s Homeland Party and other opposition groups have called for Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s resignation.

Vanetsyan and others were detained on November 11 for organizing an opposition rally in Yerevan. He was later released.