HUNGER-STRIKE NEAR HHSh BOARD
Support A1+!Hunger-strike still remains the best way in Armenia to voice a protest against the authorities. Two members of the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) Sargis Tamazian and Karen Karapetian and the director of “Hayk” daily Armen Zurabian have gone on a hunger-strike near the HHSh board. The strike will continue till June 20 and the strikers will replace each other every three days.
The hunger-strikers demand to free political prisoners and stop political persecutions.
Secondly, they appeal the authorities to launch an independent international investigation on the March 1 occurrences and finally, not to bar marches, rallies and demonstrations.
“We demand that the authorities implement the PACE recommendations to restore a civilized atmosphere in the country. The authorities should first carry out the PACE recommendations, a necessary precondition for fostering a dialogue with the opposition,” said HHSh member Karen Karapetian.
Sargis Tamazian is confident that the authorities have no intention to carry out the PACE recommendations, they simply create an imitation.
“It is not accidental that we name the authorities a criminal grouping. Obviously, they are real criminals. Sooner or later they will stand trial for all their misdeeds,” says Mr. Tamazian.
Armen Zarubian says the authorities make people take extreme measures-go on a hunger-strike. “They have confined all means of expressing one’s protest or opinion.”
Today we are even deprived of a chance to hold meetings, marches and demonstrations. Thus, we have nothing else to do than to go on a hunger-strike.
Armen Zurabian says they demand implementation of the OCSE recommendations endorsed by the Armenian delegation at the PACE spring sitting.
The hunger-strikers urge RoA citizens who highlight freedom of expression and human dignity to join their strike and protest action.
Note, the board has notified the City Hall, the Human Rights Ombudsman, General Prosecutor’s Office and Red Cross.
