Opposition Politician Dies in Armenian Prison Custody

Arsen Gevorgyan, a 46-year-old opposition politician, died at Yerevan's Nubarashen prison on November 10, 2026, while awaiting trial on electoral bribery charges he denied. Arrested four days before municipal elections, Gevorgyan had been preparing to run as a candidate for the Strong Armenia party. According to prison authorities, his health deteriorated on the morning of his death; medical personnel arrived within 30 minutes. His lawyers question whether adequate medical care was provided and have called for an independent investigation. Gevorgyan's death marks the third high-profile death involving a government critic during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration, following similar cases in 2019 and 2022. The deaths raise questions about state responsibility for detainees' welfare and medical care.