Progressive Party sues Amnesty International
The Progressive Party of Armenia is going to sue Amnesty International, a London-based international human-rights organisation, for spreading disinformation in its report.
Amnesty International has criticized the state of human rights protection in Armenia, noting persisting "impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations."
In its annual report "State Of The World's Human Rights" released earlier this month, the organisation referred to the case of a leading human rights activist in Armenia, Mikael Danielian, who was shot at point-blank range with a pneumatic gun by the leader of the pro-government Armenian Progressive Party in May 2008.
"The prosecution in the case was discontinued in May on the grounds that the perpetrator had allegedly acted in self-defense. Human rights groups voiced concern that key witness statements had not been considered by the prosecution and no one has been made accountable in connection with the incident," reads the report.
Recall that two years ago, Leader of the Progressive party of Armenia Tigran Urikhanyan shot Michael Danielian. According to the human rights activist, Urikhanyan stood in the middle of the street shouting, "That's enough, I am fed up with you, a CIA dog. Do you champion the rights of gays?" Then Urikhanyan reportedly put out his gas pistol and shot at Danielian.
Urikhanyan's teammates claim that drunken Danielian chased and attacked Urikhanyan who was forced to "shoot into the air" in self-defense.
"Throughout his activity Danieliian has not been punished for his hooligan attack and still walks in freedom. In its report, Amnesty International gives false information defaming the party and Armenia," reads a party statement.
The Progressive Party demands compensation of $1.000.000 for its moral losses.
