Free ARMENIA

Arshak Banouchyan released under amnesty

2009-12-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

On December 11, Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court returned a verdict of guilty against Arshak Banouchyan, assistant director of the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts and Executive Director of "Matenadaran's Friends" Charity Foundation.

Banouchyan who was charged with squandering and tax evasion was amnestied after being sentenced to three years in prison.

He was set free from the courtroom.

The Court also ruled that Banouchyan must pay 2,3 million drams in favour of the foundation.

posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/social/2009/12/11/arshak-banuchyan

Levon Zurabyan: Political prisoners are put up for sale

2009-12-11T03:02:00.000-08:00

"Today Armenia has 15 political prisoners. Besides, the City Hall has sanctioned the opposition's march due on December 10. The authorities seem to have sobered up and realized that the ban on marches mars their image," said the HAK representative.
Levon Zurabyan couldn't say on which criteria the authorities released political prisoners. "The authorities treat political prisoners as their hostages and have put them on sale. Releasing them one after another they try to extort concessions from public, opposition and international structures. That's why we do not take the authorities seriously and don't start a dialogue with them. They are vandals. We shall not enter a dialogue with them unless the last political prisoner is freed.
Let me bring the example of chief editor of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinyan who is still kept in detention. The Central Election Commission has registered Pashinyan as a parliamentary candidate but Pashinyan's right to inviolability is breached. Pashinyan can be kept in custody only by a CEC decision which doesn't exist as such. If, in reality, the authorities are ready to compete with Pashinyan on an equal footing they must immediately release him otherwise they will confirm their cowardice and meanness.
Eventually, Pashinyan was registered as a candidate under the pressure of international structures and Armenian National Congress," concludde Levon Zurabyan.
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/levon-zurabyan

Verdict not announced for Arshak Banouchyan

2009-12-11T00:44:00.000-08:00

On December 9, Kentron and Nork-Marash district Court was scheduled to return a verdict on Arshak Banuchyan, assistant director of the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts and head of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's pre-election office during the 2008 presidential elections.
After a 20-minute delay, Judge Gagik Poghosyan's secretary announced that the judge was busy in the retiring-room and the presentees would additionally be informed about the data of the next sitting.
With regard to Prosecutor Armen Bohnaghyan's motion to sentence the defendant to 4,5 years' imprisonment, Banuchyan said: "I know that I am innocent. So are my friends locked in different prisons. I shall struggle till the end to administer justice in Armenia."
Arshak Banuchyan is charged under Article 205 of the Armenian Criminal Code (money squandering) and Article 179 (evasion of taxes).
posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/12/9/ashot-banuchya

Human rights defender, Arshaluys Hakobyan was released

2009-10-21T03:39:00.000-07:00

Paris-Geneva-Yerevan, October 20, 2009. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), along with the Civil Society Institute, Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Vanadzor office, the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Collaboration for Democracy centre, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre, as well as the Foundation against Violation of Law, welcome the release on bail of human rights defender Arshaluys Hakobyan.
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork Marash Communities of Yerevan decided to release on bail Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, a member of the Armenian Helsinki Association and press photographer of the official website of the organisation (www.hahr.am), who had been in pre-trial detention for four months. Immediately after the hearing, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan had to sign a document by which he committed not to leave the area. He eventually walked out of the court room free and the trial was postponed pending complementary investigation.
On June 6, 2009 the Court of First Instance for Kentron and Nork-Marash districts had placed Mr. Hakobyan in pre-trial detention. His arrest followed his attempt to monitor the elections for the Mayor of Yerevan together with a group of observers. After he had filed a complaint to challenge denial to accede a polling station, the police summoned him and eventually arrested him. Mr. Hakobyan was charged with "violence against a Government representative" pursuant to Article 316 of the Criminal Code and trial started on September 16, 2009.
The aforementioned organisations welcome Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan's release, and thank all the persons, institutions and organisations who intervened in his favour. Nevertheless, our organisations deplore that Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan remains charged with "violence against a Government representative". Our organisations urge the Armenian authorities to put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level, against Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, in conformity with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and with international and regional human rights instruments ratified by Armenia.
Our organisations also denounce that, in the course of arrest and detention, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan was subjected to acts of ill-treatment. Therefore we urge the Armenian authorities to order a thorough, immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the sanctions provided by the law.

posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/society/2009/10/20/human-rights

Tigran Arakelyan is free

2009-10-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

The RA Prosecutor General's office has discussed the process of the preliminary investigation at the Kentron investigation division of the RA Police of the criminal case against representative of the Armenian National Congress youth wing Tigran Arakelyan at the Kentron investigation division of the RA Police. Tigran Arakelyan is charged with committing a hooligan act and applying force against a state figure. The investigator gave a report of the evidence and the range of issues to be discussed during the preliminary investigation.
As press speaker for the RA Prosecutor General Sona Truzyan told "A1+" that a testimony was given to the investigator to speed up the necessary investigation.
Taking into account the fact that the main examination has been completed and Tigran Arakelyan's arrest will not impede further examination, and the diagnosis of a convulsion of Tigran's eye nerve given by the chief optician of the RA Ministry of Health, a testimony has been given to change his precautionary measure, that is, imprisonment and choose a new precautionary measure with his signature to not leave the country.
Let us remind that Tigran Sargsyan is in critical health condition. He is diagnosed with convulsion of the left eye nerve. Tigran was arrested on July 5 after the representatives of the Armenian National Congress youth wing got into a conflict with the police while passing out flyers about the Congress rally.
A short while ago, Tigran was released from the Prisoners' Hospital and immediately headed toward the Saryan statute to meet with his fellow Armenian National Congress members. Members of the congress and friends had gathered near the hospital half an hour before Tigran's release and greeted him shouting "Freedom", and "Free, independent Armenia".

posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/10/8/tigran-arakelyan

"Robert Kocahryan is the godfather of March 1"

2009-09-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

Opposition Heritage faction MP Armen Martirosian today demanded Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian's resignation for concealing the perpetrators of March 1 deadly clashes. "On March 1 I said there were provocateurs among demonstrators. Why didn't the NA Ad-Hoc Commission looking into the March 1-2 events refer to it in its final report?" Armen Martirosian asked the Commission Chair and added». The answer is simple: the Prosecutor's Office did not order the Commission to disclose and liquidate the provocateurs."
Then, the Heritage MP raised rhetoric questions: "What was the use of an armoured car in the capital? Were they liberating the city from enemies? What were the Defence Ministry troops doing at the square?"
"Robert Kocahryan is the godfather of the March 1 carnage and he must shoulder full responsibility for the deadly clashes," announced freelance parliamentarian Victor Dallakian. "Starting from 1991, presidential elections in Armenia ended in cataclysms and tragedies. History shows that power change is impossible in Armenia through elections. The only attempt to change power through elections failed in 1999 and ended with the parliamentary carnage of October 27."
"President's chair is mined in Armenia," announced the deputy and suggested changing the constitutional order making Armenia a parliamentary country with a president having symbolic powers.
Commission member and leader of the National Concord Party Aram Harutiunian said March 1 could have been averted through the All-Armenian Catholicos. "On March 1 the Catholicos was to go and speak to people instead of meeting the two presidents.'
Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Davit Harutiunian, criticized the Armenian police and Prosecutor's Office for inexperienced work, drawbacks and non-professionalism.
Coalition parties sounded pleased with the parliamentary commission laying the blame on the opposition.

poted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/09/17/parliament

March 1 report presented in Armenian Parliament

2009-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Chairman of the NA Ad-Hoc Committee looking into the March 1-2 events, Samvel Nikoyan presented the Committee's report on the March 1 clashes in 90 minutes. The report mostly cited the speeches of Armenian first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and other opposition figures, OSCE/ODIHR and Human Rights Defender's reports.
Samvel Nikoyan detailed all the facts and materials at hand in a half-empty hall. In Clause 6.2, the Committee concludes that if the state of emergency were declared after the first blasts and shots in Yerevan streets, the grave aftermaths could have been averted. The Committee finds that the presidential decree on the state emergency was belated. The conclusion is grounded for the fact that the mob gathered near the Yerevan City Hall gradually became uncontrollable and started plunder, arson burning hundreds of vehicles, breaking windows and robbing nearby shops and offices.
The Committee has come forth with proposals along with conclusions. To exclude repetition of March 1, the Committee suggests eliminating "Cheryomukha-7" special device. The Committee also suggests reviewing legal acts on police activities and use of force and conforming them to the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as to the UN basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law-enforcement agencies.
The most interesting is the fact that the Committee raises the importance of amending the RA Law on the Supervisory Chamber. The amendments will make the Chamber forward its findings to the Prosecutor's Office, which is "an effective way of combat against corruption and impunity."
Note that National Democratic Union (AZhM) representative Artavazd Vardanian and New Times Party (NZhK) Chairman Aram Karapetian didn't sign the report.

posted on: http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/09/16/committee

An evidence: a "March 1" victim's jacket

2009-09-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

"Better to see once than read hundred times without understanding," Chairman of the NA AD-Hoc Committee looking into the March 1 events, Samvel Nikoyan announced today. The jacket of police officer Tigran Abgaryan killed during the March 1 events was brought to the National Assembly today by the Special Investigation Service (SIS), upon the request of the Special Investigation Service. The SIS informed journalists that it needs to investigate once more the expert's conclusion on Tigran Abgaryan's jacket. As noted by Nikoyan, the expert's conclusion was written in a complex language which they didn't understand, so they decided to "see it once more." SIS investigator Bagrat Adamyan and expert Karen Abrahamyan opened the package and presented the jacket to the Committee, who wondered which parts of the jacket were damaged by the bullet. SIS member Aram Karapetyan later informed A1+ that the examinations hardly give any response to the tragic events. Remind that the National Assembly is due to come up with a final report on the March 1 unrest by September 15. http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/09/7/tigran-abgaryan

Nikoyan's reaction

2009-08-30T01:59:00.000-07:00

The NA Ad-Hoc Committee looking into the events of March 1-2 today tried to verify the information furnished by the disbanded Fact-Finding group members Andranik Kocharyan and Seda Safaryan. They state that on March 1, 2008, some 950 military uniforms and 140 hats were given to Armenian high-ranking officials who later gave the clothes to their bodyguards and skinheads.
The names of Gagik Tsarukyan, Suren Khachatryan, Levon Sargsyan, Gagik Beglaryan, Hovik Abrahamyan, Arakel Movsesyan, Mher Sedrakyan and Samvel Alexanyan are mentioned among the disputed high-ranking officials.
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) was the first to react to the publication. "None of Gagik Tsarukyan's acquaintances had connection with last March unrest," runs the BHK release. Others still keep silent.
It is still unknown how Mr. Tsarukyan's name appeared on the list.

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/08/28/samvel-nikoyan

...and some clues

2009-08-28T03:07:00.000-07:00

Former members of the fact-finding group investigating the events of March 1 Andranik Kocharyan and Seda Safaryan doubt that the final report of the NA ad hoc committee leading an investigation into the events of March 1 will be impartial and will include all facts relating to the results of the studies.
"We still don't know who's writing the report , who the experts are and what the basis for their facts is," said Andranik Kocharyan at the "Hayatsk" club today. Former members of the fact-finding group presented journalists with the fourth report that particularly referred to the creation and involvement of armed groups not foreseen by the law during the events of March 1. The report is the document provided to the fact-finding members by the Armenian National Congress on December 15, 2008. According to that document, a number of high-ranking officials, including Vache Beglaryan, Gagik Tsarukyan, Surik Khachatryan, Levon Sargsyan, Gagik Beglaryan, Hovik Abrahamyan, Arakel Movsisyan, Mher Sedrakyan and Samvel Alexanyan, were given 950 military costumes and 140 hats from the storage room of the RA Defense Ministry's guard service. According to information of the Congress, the clothes were foreseen for motivating provocative actions. The report also states the site of the storage room and the name of the head of the material service that checked out the clothes-Harut Barseghyan.
After recording the information, the fact-finding group decided to find the facts and left for the storage room. In order to avoid cover-up, Andranik Kocharyan said that he would like to leave for the site in the car. The mission failed because the group was prohibited from entering the military unit.
"We showed head of the service, colonel Norik Yolchyan the RA President's decree on creatoin of the fact-finding group, but he refused to look at it, saying that other things must be checked," said Andranik Kocharyan who believes that this was an act aimed at sealing up the truth. Although the members sent the report to the NA ad hoc committee on Monday, they are not sure if the committee is leading a general investigation into the most important facts and if it will include them in the final report.
"Before that, we had presented reports on marksmen, people dressed in military uniforms on Melik-Adamyan Street and the death of Tigran Abgaryan, but the committee didn't conduct a thorough investigation," said Seda Safaryan.

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/08/27/march-1

Finnaly: Charges on the other side; Four policemen charged

2009-08-28T02:50:00.000-07:00

On August 27, four policemen were charged within the framework of the criminal case being investigated by the RA special investigative service on applying force against citizens at Republic Square and the market on Mashtots Avenue on March 1, 2008.
The press service of the prosecutor general's office informs that policemen of the Yerevan police department G. Harutyunyan and H. Ghukasyan have been charged with Part 2, Article 309 of the RA Criminal Code for applying force and hitting citizens with rubber clubs at Republic Square on the morning of March 1, 2008.
The preliminary inquiry also identified the policemen who, according to the videos presented during the inquiry, had attacked two citizens near the market on Mashtots Avenue and based on the procured evidence, policemen of the Yerevan Police Division A. Manukyan and G. Grigoryan were charged with Part 2, Article 309 of the RA Criminal Code.
Operative search bodies have once again been assigned to find out the identity of citizens who were attacked by police and to present them for examination.

http://www.a1plus.am/en/official/2009/08/27/police-march-1

In defense of Mariam Sukhudyan

2009-08-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

STATEMENT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA

The authorities of Armenia relying on law enforcement bodies and judicial system freely carry out any order and continue the policy of intimidation and violence towards the disagreeable citizens.Arrests, beatings and judicial punishment of journalists and human rights defenders, disgraceful trials related to the events of March 1, 2008 over oppositional leaders of Armenia, arrests and beatings of youth movement members struggling for their rights are sanctioned by provost regime of Armenia.The commencement of a criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan, one of the leaders of ecological movement is another vivid manifestation of policy of impatience towards the dissidence.We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations of Armenia which are members of South Caucasian Network of Human Rights Defenders--demand the competent bodies to stop the criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan,--demand the competent bodies to punish the ones who instituted the criminal case--address the international organizations with a request to support our demands and exert pressure on the authorities of Armenia.
Helsinki Association Socioscop Helsinki Citizen Assembly Journalist Club “Asparez” Women Resource Center Vernatun- Wives of Political Prisoners PINK Armenia Democracy Today Helsinki Citizen Assembly of Vanadzor

ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՀԱՍԱՐԱԿԱԿԱՆ ԿԱԶՄԱԿԵՐՊՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԻ ՀԱՅՏԱՐԱՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆԸ
Հայաստանի իշխանությունները իրենց բնորոշ մեթոդներով` հիմնվելով իրավապահ մարմինների և դատական իշխանության վրա, որոնք աներկբա կատարելով վերևից եկող յուրաքանչյուր հրաման, շարունակում են վախեցնելու և հաշվեհարդար տեսնելու քաղաքականությունը իրենց համար ոչ ձեռնտու քաղաքացիների նկատմամբ:Լրագրողների և իրավապաշտպանների ձերբակալություններ, ծեծ և դատական հաշվեհարդար, 2008թ. մարտի 1-ի դեպքերով ընդդիմադիր գործիչների խայտառակ դատաստանը, իրենց իրավունքների համար պայքարող երիտասարդական շարժման մասնակիցների ձերբակալությունները և ծեծի ենթարկվելը. այս ամենը թելադրվում է Հայաստանում հաստատված ռազմաոստիկանական ռեժիմի կողմից:Բնապահպանական շարժման ակտիվիստներից մեկի` Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ քրեական հետապնդման հանգամանքը անհանդուրժողականության քաղաքականության ևս մեկ վառ դրսևորում է այլակարծության նկատմամբ:Մենք, ներքոստորագրյալ հասարակական կազմակերպություններս` Հարավկովկասյան Իրավապաշտպանների ցանցի Հայաստանի անդամներս-պահանջում ենք անհապաղ դադարեցնել քրեական գործը Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ-կոչ ենք անում իրավասու մարմիններին անհապաղ պատժել Մարիամ Սուխուդյանի նկատմամբ քրեական գործ հարուցած մեղավորներին-դիմում ենք միջազգային կազմակերպություններին խնդրանքով աջակցություն ցուցաբերել մեր պահանջներին և ճնշում գործադրել Հայաստանի իշխանությունների նկատմամբ:Հելսինկյան ԱսոցիացիաՍոցիոսկոպ“Ասպարեզ” լրագրողական ակումբՀելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական ԱսամբլեաԿանանց Ռեսուրսային ԿենտրոնՎերնատուն-քաղբանտարկյալների կանայքՀանրային իրազեկման և գիտելիք կենտրոնԺողովրդավարությունն ԱյսօրՎանաձորի Հելսինկյան Քաղաքացիական Ասամբլեա

ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ НЕПРАВИТЕЛЬСТВЕННЫХ ОРГАНИЗАЦИЙ АРМЕНИИВ
ласти Армении, свойственными для себя методами, опираясь, на правоохранительные органы и судебную власть, котроые беспрекословно выполняют любой приказ сверху, продолжают политику запугивания и расправ с неугодными для себя гражданами.Аресты, избиения и судебные расправы журналистов и правозащитников. Позорное судилище оппозиционеров по событиям 1-го марта 2008г. Аресты и избиения участников молодежного движения за свои права. Все это санкционирует военно-полицейский режим установившийся в Армении.Начало уголовного преследования одного из лидеров экологического движения Мариам Сухудян еще одно яркое проявление политики нетерпения по отношению к инакомыслию.Мы, нижеподписавшиеся неправительственные организации члены Южно-Кавказской Сети Правозащитников от Армении:- требуем незамедлительного прекращения уголовного дела против Мариам Сухудян;- призываем компетентные органы, незамедлительно наказать виновных возбудивших уголовное дело против Мариам Сухудян;- обращаемся к международным организациям с просьбой поддержать наши требования и оказать давления на власти Армении.Хельсинкская АссоциацияСоциоскопХельсинкская Гражданская АссамблеяЖурналистский клуб «Аспарез»Женский Ресурсный ЦентрВернатун – Жены ПолитзаключенныхЦентр Общественной Информированности и ЗнанийДемократия СегодняХельсинкская Гражданская Ассамблея Ванадзора-----
[photo is from facebook group "Hands off eco-activist Mariam Sukhudyan"]
Posted by tzitzernak2 at 6:22 AM

Another political prisoner released

2009-07-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

"Nobody can change my political views. I'll have Serzh Sargsyan know that I am going to fight until the end," said political prisoner Hayk Gevorgyan as he came out of the "Kosh" penitentiary today. Gevorgyan was charged with Part 3, Article 258 of the Criminal Code for hooligan acts in the wake of the events of March 1. "They sentenced me for a crime that I did not commit, but that didn't stop me from fighting," said Hayk Gevorgyan to "A1+". Gevorgyan's relatives who are still in prison were also arrested after the events of March 1. Hayk Gevorgyan, 26, is from the Aragatsotni region and was in his junior year at the Yerevan State Agrarian University at the time of his arrest. He was not able to take his exams at the penitentiary and he isn't sure if he will be able to continue his education. "It is up to the will of the authorities. But that's their problem and I will never change my views." Gevorgyan says that he is happy that there was no amnesty for him. "I did not commit any crime and there was no need for amnesty." Hayk Gevorgyan did not complain about the conditions at the "Kosh" penitentiary. As a matter of fact, some officials even saw him off from the penitentiary and Gevorgyan invited them to his house to celebrate his release. Gevorgyan was greeted by his relatives and ANC members today.
http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/07/29/political-prisoner

Statement of Tigran Arakelian, July 10, 2009

2009-07-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

Member of the youth wing of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), Tigran Arakelian, taken under custody since July 5, issued a statement. "I was illegally detained on July 5 on alleged charges of hooliganism. In reality, I was distributing flyers informing about a July 2 opposition rally sanctioned by the Yerevan City Hall. Just at that moment we were attacked by a group of bandits in plainclothes. On July 6, I went on a hunger sign in protest of my illegal detention. Later in the day, my friends Karen Karapetian, Narek Aivazian, Sargis Gevorgian, Sargis Khachatrian, Arakel Semirjian, Arayik Mirzoyan and Gor Sargsian joined the hunger strike with a demand to release me. Taking into consideration the fact that I was detained for two months and being concerned about my friends' health condition I stop the hunger strike and urge my friends follow my example. Our struggle is uncontestable and our victory inevitable. We shall win," runs the statement. http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/07/10/tigran-arkelian

Release Tigran Arakelyan - The Youngest Political Prisoner in Armenia

2009-07-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

Young oppositional activist Tigran Arakelyan was arrested on 5 July 2009 by the Armenian Police, based on false charge for hooliganism. On 1 July 2009 about 15 policemen dressed in civilian attacked with guns about 30 young oppositional activists who distributed leaflets, informing upcoming opposition rally to be held on 2 July 2009 in Yerevan. 3 of them were severally beaten and taken to the hospital Surb Grigor Lusavorich. Now they fabricated a criminal case of hooliganism and arrested one of the young activists. Please spread the word about this evident act of injustice and disrespect of basic human rights by the Armenian authorities. From 06.07.2009 9:00 Tigran Arakelyan went on a hunger-strike.
Today, 7.07.2009, chairman of the Armenian Pan-national Movement Party’s youth wing Karen Karapetyan has also joined youth wing member Tigran Arakelyan’s hunger strike.

NIKOL PASHINIAN was arrested on July 1, 2009. He has been underground since October 2, 2008.

2009-07-01T13:40:00.001-07:00

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/07/1/nikol-pashinyan

Statement of Nikol Pashinian, published on A1+

2009-06-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Editor of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashinian has issued the following statement today: "I have been carrying out covert activity since March 2, 2008 and now I have decided to continue my struggle in custody. I have always thought of it but the idea came to me after the recent developments in Armenia. In the past, I feared lest my surrender should give a blow to the Pan-National Movement. But now I feel no fear or menace hanging over the Movement as many political prisoners, members of the Movement, have been amnestied. It really gives a new stimulus to the Movement and to the Armenian national Congress. Hence, I announce proudly that it is high time I became a political prisoner. My decision is conditioned by my profound desire to continue the political struggle efficiently. During the 1.3 year I have actively worked for Haykakan Zhamanak, made an address to Armenian citizens on Public Television and launched a new website with the help of my friends. I have had contacts with the site visitors, answered their numerous questions, and placed secret photos. Everything was done to prove that our struggle is ongoing and no one can stop us. We shall struggle till the end- be it in the air, in the water or on the land. We shall struggle by the time Armenia gets rid of this gang rule and lawlessness, by the time we create a free and happy Armenia where every and each Armenian will feel safe and sound. My political comrades could now participate in the struggle outside a jail cell while I would do the same from the inside. The struggle needs a fresh impetus and I believe that my friends will provide it in freedom. For now, I cannot say when I shall stop my underground activities. I haven't decided any date. I fully realise that my decision has aroused numerous questions with my adherents, site visitors and our citizens. You can send all your questions to http://www.nikol.am/, http://www.nikolpashinyan.com/ and I shall try to answer them as quickly as possible. In the end, I would like to urge HAK's activists and adherents to continue the struggle with their heads up and in high spirits. Our struggle cannot be subdued. We shall win."

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/06/24/nikol-pashinian

Political prisoners out of prisons

2009-06-24T13:58:00.000-07:00

Part of the Armenian political prisoners are out of jails, but 16 of them are still in prisons. Presidential declaration of amnesty is appliable for the persons convicted for a 5 years maximum sentence and the decision was taken upon the international pressure, faraway of being a honest one. Will see the continuation...

Human rights advocate was arrested in Armenia

2009-06-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/06/8/arshaluis-hakobyan

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2009 FOR ARMENIA

2009-06-06T00:42:00.000-07:00

http://report2009.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/armenia

ANC Statement

2009-05-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Koryun 19a, Tel.: (374)10 52 09 74, Yerevan, Armenia

STATEMENT

The impediments posed by the regime during the first week of the election campaign failed to prevent the powerful demonstrations and rallies of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) that received deep resonance among the public. In order to forestall the rally of May 13 in Avan District of Yerevan, the regime decided to resort to desperate attempts. Female activists of the Armenian National Congress, while handing out campaign’s booklets and leaflets to residents of Avan district, were attacked by thugs on May 10 near the building of the District Council and in two other crowded locations. The attackers used obscene language and used physical assault against the activists. The group of male assaulters demanded the material being distributed and claimed that the activists never appear in that territory declaring that “Taron is the owner of the District and whoever is against him …” Meanwhile, they threatened the residents of the district saying that “We will break the legs of everybody we see with the booklets of Levon”. We are confident that these statements are not accidental, but they are provisions coming from the “top” and well mastered at the “bottom”, proving once again that the kleptocratic regime regards the country and Yerevan as feudal estates already divided between them and treats the residents as their serfs. This attitude is at least humiliating for the citizens of Armenia and the residents of the capital city.
The group of the assaulters was headed by the leader of the youth wing of ruling Republican Party’s (HHK) territorial structure of Avan and the son of the NA Deputy Vazgen Karakhanyan.
On May 11 also, while the members of ANC and their supporters were distributing campaign leaflets, several dozens of bandits walked out from the Republican district headquarters and attacked the activists. The police arrived at the scene more than 30 minutes after being alerted about the violence and only after the ANC representatives succeeded in confronting the attackers, who escaped to the campaign headquarters. Unfortunately, before their escape the attackers inflicted serious injuries on three women who were taken to the hospital.
We believe that Avan’s Mayor Taron Margaryan, second on the HHK’s list of candidates in the May 31 elections of the City Council, should make public statement on whether the aforementioned attacks were committed at his command and to or without his knowledge. In case he has been aware of the attacks, we can assume that he is the real head of these gang groups, whereas, if these groups are acting bypassing him, then he is not the real Mayor of Avan District and the situation is out of his control. The Head of the RA Police Alik Sargsyan shares the responsibility of the incident, since, while a part of his structure is busy with supervising the Northern Avenue day and night, the other part is collaborating with bandits encouraging their ferocity. We are confident that the residents of Avan District will comprehend that depriving them of their right to communicate with political forces, listen what they have to say and be cognizant is humiliating and insults human dignity.
In order to initiate criminal prosecution under Articles 149, 258 and 217 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, the Armenian National Congress has appealed to the RA General Prosecutor's office and RA Police regarding the incidents of May 10. The RA Human Rights Defender was informed of the matter as well. After the occurrences of May 11, the representatives of prosecutor’s office arrived at the scene and initiated criminal prosecution.
The Armenian National Congress assures the population of Yerevan and Armenia that by its convulsions of agony the regime unveils its political incapacity, and discloses the reality, that its only support in the public are petty hooligans. Our rallies in Avan and other districts of Yerevan will be even more powerful. We urge the residents of Avan, in response to the insult to their human dignity, to unanimously participate in the rally of Armenian National Congress that will take place on May 13, at 6:00 p.m. in the neighborhood of Star Supermarket.

Headquarters of the Armenian National Congress
May 11, 2009

Another political prisoner released: Shant Harutiunian

2009-05-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

A1+: Shant Harutiunian standing trial on charges of provoking last year's deadly post-election violence in Armenia was released today. Experts say during the "crime" Shant Harutiunian was "non compos mentis," hence the criminal case against the defendant was discontinued Shant Harutiunian was charged with calls for "mass disorders" and "usurpation of state power." According to the judge's decision, Shant Harutiunian was in a mental hospital for a long time where he had been taken forcibly.
http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/05/13/shant-harutyunyan

2009-04-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Koryun 19a, Tel.: (374)10 52 09 74, Yerevan, Armenia

Statement
Even before the launching of the Yerevan city council election campaign, the regime has taken yet another illegal step. Yerevan city authorities rejected 11 requests submitted by the Armenian National Congress for pre-election meetings with voters at the Northern Avenue during the official campaign period. This violates the Constitutional right of political parties to the formulation and expression of the political will of the people (Article 7), the right to equal suffrage (Article 4) and the right to freedom of peaceful and unarmed assembly (Article 29). It also grossly violates Election Code Article 22(2), which prohibits government officials and employees from “using their authority (rights) with the purpose of influencing the free expression of citizens’ will by creating unequal conditions for candidates and showing partiality”. Article 22.1(1) of the same Code stating that "any abuse of official position in order to gain advantage in elections shall be prohibited” is also blatantly violated. Moreover, all these violations are committed by the incumbent mayor and mayoral candidate of the ruling Republican Party to his own benefit and to the disadvantage of the only true rival from the opposition.
The Armenian National Congress declares that the explicitly unlawful actions initiated by the regime are a testimony, on the one hand, to its weakness and nonexistence of political resources, and on the other hand, to its horror in the face of the ever increasing impetus of the will of people. Regardless of the regime’s provocations and the obstacles it creates, we will continue our defiance in abidance by law, and through victory in Yerevan we will achieve our final goal of restoring the Constitutional order in Armenia.

27.04.2009

Rescue committee created by the Armenian diaspora

2009-03-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

The "Armenian Civil Society" Human Rights Defense Association declares the political prisoners of the "Case of Seven", as well as Gagik and Vardan Jhangiryan as "Political Hostages" of the political elite. According to today's release, the life and health of the political prisoners are in real danger.
The full story it's posted on http://www.a1plus.am/en/politics/2009/03/26/7-i-dat

One political prisoner less

2009-03-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

Iranian Armenian Vardges Gaspar, charged with violence against a government representative during the March 1 Events, was released after the Court of Appeals changed the restraint-arrest, on February 27, 2009.
Vardges Gaspar was Ter-Petrosyan’s proxy during a February 19, 2008, Presidential election.
He has been in custody for a year.
posted on: www.a1plus.am