"The 10 murders are a result of the elections"
"We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners from the Armenian authorities," these were the words that ended the 37th conference of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) in Yerevan.
The conference was summed-up by vice-president of the FIDH, advocate from Belarus Ales Bialitatski who assured that the situation is the same in almost all post-Soviet countries from the angle of human rights.
"During our meetings with the Armenian authorities, our organization also demanded that the authorities reveal the 10 murders on March 1 because the murders of 2008 March 1 in Armenia are the result of the 2008 elections," Mr. Bialiatski told "A1+".
He recalled that the FIDH was the first organization that gave an evaluation in the aftermath of the events of 2008. "I am certain that our announcements on the release of political prisoners and revealing the 10 murders will not go unanswered. We will also keep those issues in the center of the Armenian authorities' attention through a number of other international organizations and I think the Armenian authorities will approach these issues with understanding."
The vice-president of the FIDH assured "A1+" that the conference would proceed differently, if political prisoners were released before the conference. "It would be possible to avoid many issues."
Ales Bialiatski recalled that if the state court instances are not able to reach justice and are dependent on the authorities, it will be possible at international instances.
"There have been precedents. Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights can take decisions on issues existing in Armenia."
Tomorrow at 12 p.m. the heads of the FIDH are scheduled to give a press conference devoted to Turkish-Armenian relations and violations of human rights in those relations. During the conference, many advocates condemned Turkey for the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
