Armenian activist says case brought against him because of Russia's support

Opposition protest action in Yerevan. File photoYEREVAN, May 24 Armenian activist Mika Badalyan came to the Court of Appeal in Yerevan on Tuesday in connection with a post on social networks, he links the case to his participation in a rally in support of Russia near the Russian Embassy The case against Badalyan was opened the next day after the activist came to the Russian embassy in Yerevan to prevent a rally there in support of the Azov national battalion (against whose militants criminal cases were initiated in the Russian Federation). Then the court did not arrest Badalyan, but the other day, after a similar action near the Russian embassy, ​​where the activist also came as an opposition to the «defenders of Azov», the prosecutor filed an appeal in the case and demanded that Badalyan be arrested.Yerevan residents forced pro-Ukrainian activists to stop the rally»Here today, once again, they are trying to arrest me — the first time I was detained on April 22, this happened after I dispersed a Russophobic rally near the Russian embassy, ​​the next day I was detained,” Badalyan told a RIA Novosti correspondent. He was not arrested then.» Two days ago there was another Russophobic rally, which we again successfully dispersed. And everything is like clockwork: two days later I am again summoned to court and they are trying to arrest me,» Badalyan added. According to the activist, they are trying to intimidate him, but his lawyer is sure that they will «smash the accusation to smithereens.» Armenian opposition announced searches in the apartments of their supporters