Leter sent to Co- Rapporteurs
The youth wing of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) decided to stage a protest near the Council of Europe's Yerevan Office on July 3.
But later they learnt that the CoE Office had moved to another address and changed the format of the protest action.
The participants were going to post placards near the Office but then they decided to hand a letter to an Office representative.
Coordinator of the HAK's Youth Council Georgy Avetisian says the letter is addressed to PACE Co- Rapporteurs on Armenia John Prescott and Georges Colombier.
The letter reads that Armenian authorities have again violated PACE resolutions, in particular provision 53 of Res. 1677 which says that if a political prisoner comes out of hiding and turns himself in by July 31, he will be freed by the end of the trial.
"The provision is roughly breached. On July 1 Haykakan Zhamanak daily's Chief Editor Nikol Pashinian surrendered to law enforcers but the provision was not applied to him. Hence we urge that the Council of Europe take corresponding measures," noted Mr. Avetisian.
The letter runs:
Mr Georges COLOMBIER, Mr John PRESCOTT
Co-rapporteurs, Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)
Dear Mr. Colombier,
Dear Mr. Prescott,
On July 1, Nikol Pashinian, editor of the leading Armenian newspaper Haikakan Jamanak (Armenian Times) and one of the leaders of Armenian National Congress turned himself in to the Special Investigation Service (SIS). Then he was transferred to a prison of the National Security Service.
On July 2, law enforcement authorities requested the court to sanction the pre-trial detention of Mr. Pashinian. It is not the first time that the Armenian authorities ignoring a specific provision of the PACE Resolution 1677, also disregard their own position expressed by the voting in support of the same Resolution. Moreover, by his speech in the Assembly the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, in effect, expressed his endorsement of the Resolution adopted just a few minutes prior to his statement.
As you are very well aware, Article 5.3 of the Resolution 1677 states that Armenian authorities should "allow the persons concerned (in hiding) to remain free pending the duration of their trial if they present themselves to the authorities before 31 July 2009."
During the rally of the Armenian National Congress on July 2 the leaders of the Congress and former political prisoners paid tribute to the work done by international organizations under the leadership of the PACE for the release of almost 30 political prisoners. We also acknowledge your personal efforts in pressing authorities to declare amnesty.
Being committed to recommendations you initiate as co-rapporteurs, we are requesting you to express your position on the disgraceful action of the Armenian authorities.
Best regards,
Georgi Avetisian
Coordinator, Youth Council, Armenian National Congress
