Protesters to Rally at EU Office in Armenia Demanding the Release of Political Prisoners

On August 19 at 12:00, a demonstration will be held in front of the European Union Delegation building in Armenia, aiming to advocate for the rights of those imprisoned for political reasons.

Rally in Support of Opposition Figure Aregnaz Manukyan

According to political analyst Stepan Danielyan, approximately 350 women have joined the call to support Aregnaz Manukyan and requested the organization of this protest. Danielyan noted a poignant detail: August 19 marks the 13th birthday of Manukyan's daughter, who remains entirely deprived of any contact with her detained mother.

In a Facebook post, Stepan Danielyan stated: "Defending Aregnaz Manukyan and all political prisoners is our civic and, fundamentally, our human duty" (Arminfo).

Details of the Criminal Case

According to Armenia's Investigative Committee, criminal proceedings have been initiated against Aregnaz Manukyan under Article 427, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the disclosure of state secrets. She is suspected of leaking classified information regarding the Armed Forces of Armenia—allegedly obtained during a closed parliamentary session—to Andranik Tevanyan, leader of the opposition "Mother Armenia" party. A court ordered Manukyan into a two-month pre-trial detention on July 9. Her defense team vehemently denies the allegations, dismissing them as entirely baseless.

Economic and Social Updates

In other local news, current data from exchange offices in the city shows the following foreign currency rates:

• US Dollar (USD): buy 364 dram, sell 366.5 dram,
• Euro (EUR): buy 420 dram, sell 423.5 dram,
• Russian Ruble (RUB): buy 4.03 dram, sell 4.15 dram.

Meanwhile, in the Armavir province, local farmers staged a protest and blocked a regional road, demanding that the authorities urgently address the ongoing difficulties they face in selling their peach harvest.