Open news feed Close news feed
A A

“MARCH 1 LIVES WITH US”

Politics

“Political repressions continue in Armenia as the authorities feel the upcoming menace hanging overhead,” said Karapet Rubinian, ex speaker of the National Assembly and member of the Popular Movement. Rubinian heads the subcommittee for the protection of political prisoners detained in connection with the March 1-2 unrest.

During today’s press conference he presented the results of their study. “We cannot give exact figures as we live in a totalitarian regime,” said advocate Vardan Harutiunian. The latter says 38 actions have been instituted and 17 people are in pretrial detention. Three detainees have been justified and 40 cases dismissed. Totally, 500 people have been taken to different police stations since March 1. 170 people have been put under arrest on groundless accusations.

Karapet Rubinian classified the detainee into two categories. “The first group includes all those who were somehow engaged in the election process and the second one involves members of the Volunteer Union.

Rubinian also spoke of a social factor. Some people have already served a four-month detention. Obviously, they cannot “survive” on the food given in jails. Therefore, the families have to send food and other necessary things to prison twice a week, and each parcel costs 30-35 thousand drams. It is difficult to calculate the financial loss inflicted on those families. Therefore, a bank account has been opened upon the initiative of a Vanatur resident Arshavir Bozinian to assist the families.

The PACE Resolution urges the Armenian leadership to release all people detained on the police testimony. In this respect Karapet Rubinian said: “All cases should be dismissed as people were detained relying on the testimony given by the Chief of Police to Robert Kocharian. Our society has a negative opinion of the police. They consider policemen ignorant, inhuman and brutal people.”

Advocate Yuri Hairapetian brought an absurd example of advocates’ activity in the country. A person is sent a summons and warned he would be detained if he didn't drop in a police station. Do you understand what is going on? Instead of making inquiries about the matter the investigator threatens to detain him. “March 1 still lives with us and receives a new stimulus,” he said.