PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION INTERVENES IN THE WORK OF FACT-FINDING GROUP
Support A1+!Joint statement of Armenian National Congress and “Heritage” party on activities of the Expert Fact-Finding Group
The Fact-finding group initiated its activities on November 14 and approved some decisions by a unanimous vote. One of them was the decision to elect Vahe Stepanyan head of the Fact-finding group and the other was to choose the office of the Ombudsman as the work place. The Ombudsman gave his consent to provide necessary conditions for the group’s productive work. Both decisions were welcoming because they are called for securing more neutrality of the group’s work and independence from political influence.
Despite the abovementioned, the president’s administration has intervened in the work of the fact-finding group and has imposed the building of the National Assembly as a work place without any authorization.
Taking into account the fact that the president’s administration has illegally intervened in the activities of the Fact-finding group and the fact that the administration is obligating the group to work where there are no principles of preventing the revelation of witnesses, as well as keeping experts and witnesses away from any type of influence, it becomes clear that this is going to create difficulties when it comes to protecting the group from any pressure and thus, the effectiveness of the revelation of the facts regarding the crimes of March 1.
What the authorities are doing goes to show once again that they are concerned about the fact-finding group’s objective and independent investigation of the events of March 1. The Armenian National Congress and “Heritage” party demand the refusal of the authorities to pressure the fact-finding group and attempts to control their work. We reaffirm that if the pressures and attempts to create obstacles continue, we will be forced to call back our representatives.
