Published since 07.2002
Published on July 04, 2008
ACCUSATIONS CONTINUE: TER-PETROSYAN DOCUMENT SAYS OPPOSITION WAS METHODICALLY PERSECUTED
- Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan this week turned up the heat in the country’s continuously volatile internal political situation as he published a document that he described as ‘diabolic’. The document dated March 5, 2008 and concerning the investigation into the March 1-related case is about an instruction of Special Investigation Service (SIS) Head A. G. Mirzoyan addressed to Vayots Dzor Regional Prosecutor H. S. Palyan. In the document Mirzoyan “asks” to assign operative-investigation measures to conduct an additional interrogation of witnesses who participated in opposition rallies on different days and Ter-Petrosyan’s election campaign managers in Vayots Dzor and clarify, for example, what they say about assistance shown by foreign states, whether rally participants spoke in favor of ousting Russia’s presence from Armenia. “To clarify what property the people who participated in rallies as well as Ter-Petrosyan’s election campaign managers in Vayots Dzor have,” the instruction says. By a separate point it mentions details substantiating the need for interrogating rally participants as well as Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign managers in the region. “To take from places of residence information and references about persons who participated in rallies, managers of Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign in Vayots Dzor and members of their families.” Another point says that the identities of minibus and taxi drivers who in the period from February 20 to March 3, 2008 provided transportation to rally participants to Yerevan must be established, as well as who they were with, who covered the travel expenses and where and what they told about rallies. “On the one hand it is a wonderful document – in the sense that it gives a complete idea about the essence of our authorities, on the other hand it is a diabolic document that proves that we live in a tyranny state where the authorities are guided not by the Constitution and laws, but by internal instructions like this. I can’t imagine that even during the Stalin times any such document could have existed,” Ter-Petrosyan said on Tuesday while making the document public at a press conference hosted in the office of the opposition People’s Party of Armenia. “The presence of such a document reduces the Constitution to zero. In fact, the Republic of Armenia has no Constitution anymore.” During the press conference Armenia’s first president and officially defeated candidate in the February presidential election Ter-Petrosyan said the goal of the instruction was for the authorities to find “those responsible” for March 1 because until March 5, according to Ter-Petrosyan, law-enforcement did not have any proof, evidence, suspect and a task was set to “look for and find… those people who are connected with the opposition.” The clashes between police and opposition protesters on March 1 that followed ten-day demonstrations against the results of the February 19 presidential vote claimed at least ten lives, left hundreds injured and led to more than 100 arrests among opposition supporters. The country found itself in a political crisis in the wake of the post-election developments and a subsequently imposed state of emergency. At its spring session in mid-April, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted Resolution 1609 on the situation in Armenia and later at its summer session it adopted Resolution 1620 urging the country to return to the path of democracy. “If we lived in the 19th century and the state had not declared itself to be a democracy, the document would be normal, and for any country that has declared itself to be democratic this document is dishonorable and disgraceful,” senior member of the opposition Hanrapetutyun party Suren Surenyants tells ArmeniaNow. “The document proves at least two things – it formalizes the notion ‘political persecution’ and encourages the so-called sneaking culture on a state level.” And Artur Sakunts, head of the Vanadzor-based regional branch of the Armenian Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, tells ArmeniaNow that the mentioned circular-document is against Article 5 of the International Convention on Human Rights. “It is clear that by this document a criminal prosecution is conducted against a person by the investigation body on the basis of this person’s political views, which is a violation of human rights,” Sakunts says. However, in a published reply the SIS says that “if necessary”, by an order prescribed under Article 191 of Armenia’s Code of Criminal Procedure, an investigation body is entitled to make an instruction to the investigator in a given area or an investigation body to conduct such actions.” “Ample evidence was acquired during the preliminary investigation showing that measures aimed at destabilizing the internal political situation in Armenia and instigating mass disturbances had been implemented, guided, organized from one center, for which funding was received also from abroad. Corresponding instructions were issued also for checking the data about a possible intervention of foreign states and for ensuring a comprehensive, full and objective examination,” the SIS reply underscores. “Thus, Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s statement is another failed attempt to distort reality, mislead the public and draw the special investigation service into political speculations,” the SIS concludes. Calling it “a special political document” and “a political instruction”, Ter-Petrosyan unveiled his plans to send it to all officials “deciding the fate of Armenia”, mentioning among them Britain’s former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and French parliamentarian Georges Colombier, both of whom are now co-repporteurs on Armenia at the PACE Monitoring Committee, head of the OSCE/ODIHR mission in Armenia Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Council of Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, as well as all structures engaged in human rights protection. “Let’s see what these people will do, whether after this they will understand that the Armenian authorities are simply mocking them, ridiculing and deceiving them,” Ter-Petrosyan said. “It seems that we have a state, a president, a parliament, a constitution, laws, we are a member of international organizations, we smile in a civilized manner, wear a necktie, our authorities always express wonderful intentions about democratization and other things...”
- Marianna Grigoryan
Headlines for July 04, 2008
UP AND ABOUT: OPPOSITION REACHES GYUMRI FOR ITS FIRST ‘AUTHORIZED’ RALLY AFTER POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE
Ani Hakobyan
Thousands of Levon Ter-Petrosyan supporters braved rainy weather and government-imposed “working day” conditions to stage a rally in Armenia’s second largest city last weekend in what proved to be the ...TIPTOEING THE TURKISH TIGHTROPE: SARGSYAN SEES MIXED REACTION AT HOME AFTER MOSCOW STATEMENTS
Aris Ghazinyan
President Serzh Sargsyan’s statements on Armenia’s relations with Turkey made while on a recent official visit to Russia elicited a negative reaction from the opposition and at least one pro-government ...POLITICAL INTRIGUE: IS ARMENIA ON THE AGENDA FOR VISIT OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO TURKEY?
Aris Ghazinyan
The situation in the South Caucasus is on the agenda of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when he begins a visit to Turkey on Wednesday, official sources confirmed. According to unofficial reports, ...SPORT: ALL EYES ON SPAIN AS ARMENIA PREPARES FOR AN ENCOUNTER WITH EUROPE’S BEST
Suren Musayelyan
Football Armenia will be tested by another reigning champion in the forthcoming World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign. This became clear after Spain managed to pull off the European title by beating the ...CLEANING HOUSE?: PRIME MINISTER INTENT ON SWEEPING OUT CORRUPTION
Arpi Harutyunyan
The first three months Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan’s leadership have seen the former Central Bank chairman emerge as a new voice against Armenia’s old problem of corruption. Amid praise from the progressively ...AIR APPARENT?: PACE DECISION NO GUARANTEE FOR A1PLUS
Gayane Mkrtchyan
Point 6 of the original text of PACE Resolution 1620 on Armenia adopted in Strasbourg last week concerned A1 plus television and according to it, the Armenian authorities must immediately provide a broadcasting ...TARGET OF CONVENIENCE: ANTI-SEMITISM ON INCREASE AS PROVOCATION AGAINST TER-PETROSYAN
Vahan Ishkhanyan
Rimma Varzhapetyan, chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Armenia, says there is no anti-Semitism in Armenia as such, however, sometimes anti-Semitic materials appear in the press and their number has ...STATED TASK: GOVERNMENT SHOWS WILL TO MAKE CUSTOMS SERVICE TRANSPARENT BODY
Sara Khojoyan
For the last two months the State Customs Committee (SCC) of Armenia has been the focus of government efforts to fight corruption. Many Armenian residents say they have already seen the positive changes ...CHILDBIRTH IN ARMENIA: PROMOTE POPULATION, IMPOVERISH FAMILIES
Naira Bulghadaryan
To promote childbirth and encourage large families the Armenian government has increased the one-time amount paid to families for the birth of a child. Since 2007 for each child families get for 100,000 ...PUPPET SHOW: A GROUP OF ENTHUSIASTS KEEP IDEA ALIVE WITHOUT A THEATRE
Armine Avagyan
The southern Armenian town of Kapan has a puppet troupe, but its fate is in limbo. The seven-member puppeteers perform only occasionally by invitation. They have no and no support. Nine years ago Vahe ...DIPLOMATIC RUMBLINGS: MOVEMENTS IN RELATIONS SEEN AS REGIONAL POWERS BECOME MORE ACTIVE
Aris Ghazinyan
The past week was marked by a sharp activation of some regional processes in the South Caucasus, in particular along the axes Yerevan-Moscow, Yerevan-Ankara, Baku-Moscow, Baku-Ankara and Moscow-Ankara. ...POLITICIANS ABOUT PROTECTION: KARABAKH EXPERTS SHARE THEIR OPINION ON THE ISSUE OF NKR SECURITY
Naira Hayrumyan
Security of the Armenian population is a key issue in the Karabakh conflict settlement. In February of 1988 Armenians of the Autonomous Region of Nagorno Karabakh (ARNK) declared their will to become ...AZERIS TO ADD DRONES TO THEIR MILITARY ARSENAL
Internet has carried headlines from Baku and Yerevan on the latest in military buildup . . . “Azeris May Buy Drones From Israel” “Azerbaijan to Buy UAVs to Watch Over Occupied Areas” “Armenia Takes ...ACCUSATIONS CONTINUE: TER-PETROSYAN DOCUMENT SAYS OPPOSITION WAS METHODICALLY PERSECUTED
Marianna GrigoryanOpposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan this week turned up the heat in the country’s continuously volatile internal political situation as he published a document that he described as ‘diabolic’. The ...ON THE MOVE: TER-PETROSYAN-LED OPPOSITION ANNOUNCES LENGTHY SIT-IN BEFORE ITS NEXT RALLY
Gayane Abrahamyan
Armenia’s opposition on Friday signaled the start of a 28-day sit-in of about 50 of its supporters in Northern Avenue as a heavy cordon of police and water cannons was raised to surround the nearby Opera ...
Similar headlines for (last 7 days) new!
SEPTEMBER 11-MARCH 1: FORMER 9/11 COMMISSIONERS IN ARMENIA TO HELP WITH UNREST PROBE
Gayane AbrahamyanBORDER BANTER: RUSSIAN FM STATEMENT ON NKR RAISES SPECULATION
Aris GhazinyanCOMPETING FOR COMPETITIVENESS: REPORT GIVES LOW RANKING TO ARMENIA
Suren MusayelyanSPORT: ARMENIA TO FACE RED DEVILS; FLU INTERFERES WITH BOXING KING’S TITLE DEFENSE
Suren MusayelyanJOKE OR DIPLOMACY?: SARGSYAN “AZERI INVESTMENTS” STATEMENT DEBATED; HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT TALKS AFTER UPCOMING AZERBAIJAN ELECTION
Naira Hayrumyan
Most read news (last 7 days)
‘URGENT DEBATE’: STRASBOURG SAYS DISCUSSION ‘WARRANTED’
Gayane AbrahamyanFREEDOM HOUSE: ARMENIA’S YEAR-ON-YEAR ‘DEMOCRACY SCORE’ UNCHANGED, BUT ON THE DECLINE SINCE 1999
Suren Musayelyan
POLITICAL INTRIGUE: IS ARMENIA ON THE AGENDA FOR VISIT OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO TURKEY?
Aris GhazinyanTIPTOEING THE TURKISH TIGHTROPE: SARGSYAN SEES MIXED REACTION AT HOME AFTER MOSCOW STATEMENTS
Aris GhazinyanPOSTPONED: PACE GIVES ARMENIA TIME UNTIL JANUARY TO COMPLY WITH ITS DEMANDS
Gayane AbrahamyanUP AND ABOUT: OPPOSITION REACHES GYUMRI FOR ITS FIRST ‘AUTHORIZED’ RALLY AFTER POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE
Ani HakobyanAZERIS TO ADD DRONES TO THEIR MILITARY ARSENAL
AIR APPARENT?: PACE DECISION NO GUARANTEE FOR A1PLUS
Gayane MkrtchyanCLEANING HOUSE?: PRIME MINISTER INTENT ON SWEEPING OUT CORRUPTION
Arpi HarutyunyanDEALING WITH DIASPORA: ARMENIA TO SET UP NEW MINISTRY FOR COMPATRIOTS ABROAD
Gayane Abrahamyan
© AUA
Today in Armenian history- 1762 The first publication of Yeznik Koghbatsi's "Yeghts Aghandots" by the Markos Publishing House, in Smyrna.
- 1818 The inhabitants of Zeytoon (Western Armenia) rebel against the exactions of the Pasha of Marash.
- 1823 Birth of Grigor Aghatonyan in Constantinople. He died in 1868.
- 1839 Death of Papa Hambardzoomian, composer and author of Armenian phonographs.
- 1847 Death of Hakob Chelepi Tyoozian, the imperial goldsmith. The "Europe" periodical was published by his initiative. He was born on 1793 01 03.
- 1902 International Meeting of Patriots takes place in Brussels. French public-political figure Jean Jaures (amongst others) devotes his speech to the Armenian Cause.
- 1902 An International Conference on the Armenian Question takes place in Brussels.
- 1908 Death of Armenian writer Missak Metsarents. He was born in 1886.
- 1930 Birth of Mher Mkrtchyan (actor). He died in 1993.
- 1992 Artsakh forces leave Martakert (Artsakh).
Forum most active discussions
ARMENIAN NEWS
INTERACTIVE NEWS
INFORMATION
MY ARMTOWN
How to quit smoking?
How to write in Armenian on Windows XP?
All materials published on this website are taken from open sources and are copyrighted by their respective owners. You cannot reproduce or copy any materials published on armtown.com without written consent of original copyright holder. If you want to remove any material, please send us an email with proof of ownership/copyright and your material will be removed immediately. All materials published for information purposes only.