“They are miserable”: human rights defender (video)
Atmosphere of impunity: in this way human rights defender Avetik Ishkhanyan characterized the situation in the country. He reminds the appointment of Surik Khachatryan as governor by which the authorities showed that they do what they want. The next is the incident with the members of Preparliament, “Now this- beating freedom fighters. I consider this state terrorism act against the people and let Vladimir Gasparyan prove that the case of burning six-seven cars or such cruel beating aren’t possible to reveal.” This case can be a test for human rights defender to find out how Police works. Human rights defender didn’t excluded that such decision was made by someone who is pro-government and if it is true that person again won’t bear the responsibility. RA Honored Worker, Director of Puppet Theatre Ruben Babayan is sure that beating has become a political category in Armenia, “They have criminal behavior and until, there is atmosphere of impunity, such criminal elements will continue increasing in our country. It means that our country has put aside the civilization and is moving forward with anarchy, which will bring to dictatorship or vendetta.” The speaker thinks that at least one of these crimes may be revealed but in this situation the most important thing isn’t the discovery but breaking this atmosphere and changing the environment, “After cruel murder in “Paplavok” the bodyguard of former President Kocharyan was also punished for a year, but what did it change?”- reminds Ruben Babayan. Avetik Ishkhanyan adds, “They are miserable, it is not manly to approach and attack a person behind, if you are a man, go and stand in front of him.” Ruben Babayan said mockingly that people, who adopted that lifestyle, are heroes, “Coward Vergo is also an epic character and his successors come from there, but we are to decide whom we want to choose as a hero- David of Sassoun or Coward Vergo?” Turning also to the statements of Police Head on the incident, that the beaten freedom fighters didn’t apply to Police and in that case Police couldn’t deal with that issue, Mr. Ishkhanyan said, “It is very surprising, Police Head mustn’t be a political figure and he mustn’t make political statements, but we witnessed other things.” “All these started in 1993 with the creation of Yerkrapahs and it continues until now,”- notes Ruben Babayan. “This can happen with anyone, the next may be a human rights defender, a journalist, as happened with the journalist of “A1+”, or other person, who will try to make statements displeasing the authorities,”- stressed Avetik Ishkhanyan answering the remark of “A1+” journalist that each of us may appear in the situation of freedom fighters.
