Artur Sakunts: The same can happen to any political force that will seek change of power (video)
Didn’t the law enforcement agencies violate human rights by arresting seven members of the opposition Founding Parliament group? “I shall refrain from making any comments as the investigation is in progress,” Minister of Justice Hovhannes Manukyan said on Wednesday. Asked how he assessed the arrest as a lawyer, Mr Manukyan said, “From the legal point of view, I shall assess it as the man who serves as Minister of Justice.” The minister does not see a violation of the presumption of innocence while the Investigative Committee of Armenia said yesterday it prevented possible ‘mass disturbances’ during public events scheduled for April 24 – the day when Armenians will be commemorating the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. “No names are given,” said Mr Manukyan. Human rights activist Artur Sakunts says the arrest of the opposition activists is ungrounded and the charges are fabricated. “They arrested the people who, according to Serzh Sargsyan, are key figures in the movement that is demanding his resignation,” he said. Mr Sakunts says Serzh Sargsyan is doing everything to retain his power; he is even applying violence and force against public. “Today they are trying to intimidate the Founding Parliament. Tomorrow it can be the Civil Contract or some other political force that will seek a change of power,” he added.
