Hammarberg should be firmer
Today Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Thomas Hammarberg was greeted with a picket as he arrived at the Armenia Marriot Hotel. The picket was organized by the Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners and the Persecuted".
Holding signs with slogans to release political prisoners and screams of "Freedom to political prisoners", "Freedom to Nikol" and "Leave, Serzhik", the participants of the picket had planned to draw the European official's attention to the existence of political prisoners in the country.
The picketers started the protest in front of the hotel and then moved to the entrance, which was under police supervision.
Among picketers were former political prisoners, including Myasnik Malkhasyan who told "A1+" that Thomas Hammarberg is truly concerned about the issue of human rights and will do everything possible for the political prisoners' release.
"We can't rest as long as our friends are in jail. I hope that today's action will remind European organizations that human rights can't be up for bargain," said Malkhasyan.
Unlike Malkhasyan, member of the Committee in Defense of Political Prisoners and the Persecuted Karapet Rubinyan doesn't have any expectations from Hammarberg. According to him, the European official is very well aware of the situation and has enough information, but he still hasn't shown that he is in principle.
"He could have been firmer. We will morally pressure Hammarberg in order to make him show that he is in principle," said Rubinyan, adding that Hammarberg's and the Armenian authorities' attitude doesn't instill any hope for the release of political prisoners anytime soon.
Joining the action were HAK coordinator Levon Zurabyan and HHSh (Armenian Pan-National Movement) president Aram Manukyan.
"We are going to work on strengthening the people's pressure. The Europeans pay attention to the people. Our picket instills optimism and I think these actions will lead to positive results," said Manukyan.
After the picket, the demonstrators moved toward the CE Office in Armenia where Hammarberg was at a meeting with Armenia police officers. There the demonstrators handed a letter signed by former political prisoners in which they call on making efforts to release political prisoners.
A number of police officers were following up on the action and one of them was writing down the calls.
