People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia, opera singer Hasmik Papyan and painter, public figure Zaruhi Muradyan have submitted their personal pledges for changing the arrest pre-trial measure against former deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, freedom fighter Vahan Badasyan. This is what Badasyan’s attorney Arayik Papikyan wrote on his Facebook page.

On January 29, the Yerevan court of general jurisdiction satisfied the motion of the investigator of the National Security Service of Armenia to choose arrest as a pre-trial measure against Vahan Badasyan.

The attorney will apply to the Court of Appeal to appeal the court’s decision.

On January 28, the National Security Service detained Vahan Badasyan for the statements he made during a conversation with reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon. Badasyan had declared that Nikol Pashinyan needs to be removed from power and that if he doesn’t leave, he must be physically eliminated. “There are different ways to remove, even physically removing him. This assumes elimination of the enemy, even with weapons. Yes, I am consciously making calls for threats, let the National Security Service detain me,” he said.

Vahan Badasyan is charged with making public calls to seize power, violate territorial integrity or forcefully overthrow the constitutional order.