UN special rapporteur condemns criminal charges against Kochubaev

Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, responded to the OSCE’s report on the detention and criminal prosecution of lawyer and human rights defender Alexander Kochubaev.

“I welcome the release of Armenian lawyer and human rights defender Alexander Kochubaev from pretrial detention; however, I strongly condemn the criminal charges brought against him and call on the Armenian authorities to immediately drop them.

Mr. Kochubaev has been subjected to criminal prosecution for criticizing the unjust persecution of clergy in the Armenian Apostolic Church, who led the peaceful protests in 2024,” Lawlor said.