ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ARE WINNING TIME
Support A1+!Swedish deputy Mrs. Purbey-Lundin expressed an opinion today that the Armenian authorities perceive any deadline granted by the PACE as a “cart-blanche”.
During the discussion on the fulfilment of the PACE resolutions, she stated that she believes that the Armenian authorities are simply trying to win time. As an example, she recalled that just a few days before the PACE session, Serzh Sargsyan decided to release 16 prisoners. But 40 people remain in prison for their political views and she has been informed that some of them have been subjected to violent treatment in their cells on December 23 . She reminded that the electronic mass media are under the pressure of the Armenian administration.
The deputy stated that it appears that she is the only one who is complaining about the decision of PACE to not apply sanctions, but she is not certain that the Armenian authorities will be able to solve the issues at hand by April.
Until now, not counting the Azeri deputies, she is the only one who is against allotting time for Armenia.
She noted the February 19 presidential elections and according to her, violations were registered in 10 percent of the polls.
Karine Asatryan
Strasbourg
