On February 18, 2011 a criminal prosecution was initiated against Tigran Postanjyan, the brother of RA National Assembly oppositionist lawmaker Zaruhi Postanjyan. This information was disseminated by an unofficial source and the Prosecutor General's Office website.Four days later Tigran Postanjvan was arrested by the National Security Service of Armenia, which, according to the Armenian Criminal Code, does not have authorization to conduct such an investigation on the charges that were brought against him.

Tigran Postanjyan was held in custody at the RA National Security Service Temporary Detention Facility and after several days was taken to Nubarashen Penitentiary. Until this time, he was illegally prohibited from having meetings with his attorney or the National Assembly Deputies. On February 23, the court satisfied the solicitation submitted by an RA NSS investigator and reached a resolution to apply detention against T. Postanjyan, as a preventive measure.

"The facts of conducting criminal prosecution towards Tigran Postanjyan without due cause and exerting psychological pressure on him, gave well-grounded suspicions that such steps are meant to impede the oppositionist-political and public activities of his sister, Zaruhi Postanjyan targeted for a democratic and free RA".

"We, the undersigned organizations, are condemning the illegal working style of the RA Government. We demand an immediately stop to the unlawful acts against Tigran Postanjyan and demand they refrain from carrying out direct or indirect encroachments towards individuals, or their relatives, who are running opposition activities".

Sona Ayvazyan, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center
Isabella Sargsyan, "Youth for Democracy" NGO
Arthur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office
Natalya Martirosyan, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee
Levon Barseghyan, Journalists' "Asparez" Club
Melissa Brown, "Shahkhatun" Committee of Political Prisoners' Wives
Vardan Harutyunyan, Center for Rights and Freedom
Lala Aslikyan, "Hope" NGO