“THEY ACCEPT GROUNDLESS CHARGES TO BE IN FREEDOM”

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The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office has addressed a letter to the PACE President Luis Maria de Puig, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Alexander Stubb, Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammerberg, Presidency of the European Union, which runs in part:

"Dear Mr.

The political movement created before and after 2008 presidential elections, changed into civil movement headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his supporters. This movement is only democratic by its nature and proposed objectives. During its development, the movement involved people with different viewpoints, interests, occupation and beliefs, including state servants, who either publicly or secretly, were acting against the anti-democratic regime in Armenia.

Why? That is because the regime wanted to re-produce itself through other persons and actors. In such conditions, by direct ruling of Robert Kocharyan who had all powers, all administrative and power resources were used against political-public activists wishing to hinder the reproduction plan. The culmination of such a working style was the inhuman and illegal actions of the Police on March 1, 2008 used against the participants of the peaceful sitting strike.

This action was of punishing nature in a form of torture and beating. After that, new violence was performed against the democratic protest by using police, military units and arms. Then incitement was organized, in the consequence of which, according to official data, 10 citizens were killed. Among them, there were people who hadn’t taken part in the strike at all. On March 1, R. Kocharyan declared state of emergency, which was not only anti-constitutional and anti-democratic but also was declared based on the illegal actions planned and implemented by him.

On April 17, 2008, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made a resolution according to which concrete demands were proposed to Armenia:

1. Immediately to open independent, transparent and credible investigation of the events of March 1 and their consequences, including the alleged excessive use of force by the police. 2. Those who were arrested on seemingly artificial and politically motivated charges, or those who personally did not perform any violence should be set free 3. The amendments recently adopted by the National Assembly to the Law on conducting meetings, assemblies, rallies and demonstrations should be revoked in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission with immediate effect.

A month has passed after the resolution, but still:

1. There are people who are under arrest for their political viewpoints. The pre trial of the political prisoners’ case, who allegedly committed a crime, either was not realized or was carried out with obvious pressure, falsification and false testimonies. The court finds the political prisoners guilty for seizing the power or participating in mass events. Conditional punishment is performed against them, which is illegal by their nature. This is a deal between the illegally charged victim and unpunished executioner. The victims agree with the groundless accusations in order to be in freedom by giving false testimonies against themselves and their supporters, and in this way they give a ransom. People are still being brought to police unlawfully, and they are taken in an unknown direction and are kept under detention. Any public activeness meets forces of police, which is actually psychological pressure on citizens. The dates of detentions are prolonged by the courts with no reason, and it keeps opposition actors and activists under arrest.

2. Both in Yerevan and in the regions demonstrations and rallies are prohibited without any grounds. On the background of such situation, the representatives of authorities publicly declare that there is no need to fulfill all the points of PACE resolution. The situation in Armenia can only cause deep concern and disappointment in a sense of human rights protection and democratic freedoms. Moreover, it is impossible to mention any real or important fact, which would prove the wish and will of authorities to make changes in any of the mentioned spheres.

3. The general prosecutor’s office has not given any information about the 10 killed people during the events of March 1, though it has given information on the cases of political prisoners. No criminal case has been brought against any policeman or law enforcement body. Furthermore, the same policemen are only witnesses in different criminal cases and their testimonies serve a basis to prove the criminal charges of political prisoners. 4. The ombudsman of Armenia made a report where he expresses his concerns on the facts of human rights violations during the pre-election and post-election periods and on inadequate attitude of authorities. So far, the representatives of administration have expressed only critical assessments about the report and the questions raised in the report remain unanswered.

Presenting our concerns about the situation, we express our willingness to cooperate with European structures to stop the process of forming anti-democratic and illegal system in Armenia."