Commissioner Marta Kos, in a written answer on 29 July 2026, sidestepped a direct commitment to raise the arrest of Armenian opposition figure Avetik Chalabyan during President von der Leyen's visit to Yerevan, instead reaffirming the EU's general support for democratic reforms and rule of law in Armenia. The answer, responding to a question from Belgian MEP Gerolf Annemans (Patriots for Europe), offers no concrete assessment of Chalabyan's case or specific assurances that the matter would be discussed bilaterally.
Kos noted that EU-Armenia relations are governed by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and the Strategic Agenda, which include commitments to democratic principles. She stated that it is for Armenian authorities to enforce national law while respecting due process and fundamental rights. The Commissioner highlighted existing EU mechanisms, such as the annual Human Rights Dialogue—the 15th session of which took place on 1 July 2026—and the visa liberalisation dialogue, as platforms for reviewing reforms and addressing concerns. However, the answer contained no numerical targets, deadlines, or new initiatives, remaining at the level of declarative support for ongoing processes.
the Commission prioritises maintaining a constructive partnership with Armenia over public criticism of individual cases. Institutional follow-up is likely to continue through established dialogues, with no indication of escalated measures or conditionality linked to the Chalabyan arrest. Stakeholders impacted include Armenian civil society and opposition figures, who may view the EU's stance as insufficiently robust on human rights, and the Armenian government, which benefits from continued EU engagement without immediate pressure. EU foreign policy coherence is also at stake, as the answer avoids setting a precedent for linking high-level visits to specific rule-of-law incidents.