The political force, which formerly allied with the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) in a coalition government, blames the current regime for attempts "to silence opponents" through a dirty revenge.
A Yerevan district court ruled to sanction Gagik Tsarykyan's arrest late on Friday, almost three months after charging the businessman-politician wth vote-buying. The prosecution was initiated after Tsarukyan's parliament speech criticizing the current government for failures and calling for its "100% resignation".
The party dismisses the criminal case as a politically motivated vendetta.
"The court presented no justified argument as to how Gagik Tsarukyan could have possibly obstructed the inquest four months being formally charged. What happened is obviously a political reckoning against the leader of the largest opposition parliamentary force. Gagik Tsarukyan is obviously a political prisoner from now on.
"With their obvious downfalls and failures in all areas, the authorities, under the leadership of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, are attempting to silence the opposition through a dirty reckoning by ordering the most servile judge to arrest Gagik Tsarukyan," reads part of the statement.
Accusing the governing elite for persecutions against political opponents, the PAP also calls the Armenian society's attention to the pressing socio-economic and national security challenges, promising to continue its fight (in collaboration with allies) for the protection of the national values and interests.