Democracy Watch: Assault on opposition activist, attack on the media, controversial land deals and procurements by ruling party members

> On April 15, opposition activist Samvel Vardanyan confronted ruling party deputy Hakob Aslanyan on a bus and began insulting him. After this incident, police officers arrived at Vardanyan’s home and detained him. On the trip to the police station, the officers stopped the car and left, claiming they needed to relieve themselves.

>Vardanyan reports that masked individuals then approached the car and began assaulting him. They spat on him and threatened him with sexual violence. An opposition deputy who later visited Vardanyan in detention noted a swollen hand.

>Armenia’s Investigative Committee charged Vardanyan with hooliganism and incitement of hatred through digital technology. After posting a seven million dram ($18,000) bail, he was placed under house arrest. At the time of this writing, his attackers remain unidentified, and no criminal case has been opened against them.

18k usd bail for Insulting someone? Wtf?