PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
7 Vazgen Sargsian Street
Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 58.08.77, 52.22.38
Fax: (+374 – 10) 54.38.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
May 24, 2006
FEAR IN ARMAVIR: HERITAGE FIGHTS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
Yerevan–On May 20, Heritage Party Chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian and a
delegation of high-ranking members paid a visit to the Armavir region to
hold consultations with members of the party’s local divisions. At their
first stop, in the village of Miasnikian, it became apparent that the visit
was being closely monitored by the local police department and other
security services. Before the meeting, the law enforcement bodies had
questioned Heritage’s local representative about the objective and timing of
the visit and the composition of the delegation, and had insisted that they
be informed as soon as Hovannisian arrived.
The meeting at Miasnikian was still in progress when word came from the town
of Armavir that the party’s local office manager Levon Margarian had been
taken into custody. Before being released he was told that the region’s law
enforcement agency knew about the forthcoming visit of Raffi Hovannisian and
the other senior party members. The police demanded that Margarian make
sure that the meeting did not take place; otherwise they would use force to
disrupt it.
Upon arrival at Armavir, the Heritage Party leadership witnessed local
police units standing on the sidewalk across from the party’s regional
headquarters. It was apparent that they had been called in to intimidate
their fellow citizens and to ensure the prevention of the meeting. This
outrage notwithstanding, an open discussion between the party officials and
local residents took place as scheduled. Afterwards, Raffi Hovannisian
walked to the local police precinct and asked to meet with the district
chief, Colonel Gevorgian. Initially, he was told that this would be arranged
in 15 minutes, but later he was informed that Gevorgian had convened an
urgent consultation and could not receive him. Talks with the deputy police
chief or any other person in command were also ruled out under the same
pretext. Subsequently, the request for a formal explanation was submitted to
the officer on duty, Lieutenant Melkonian.
On May 22, the executive board of the Heritage Party sent a letter to
Armenia’s Police Chief Haik Harutiunian demanding a full explanation and
assessment of these unlawful and unconstitutional acts.
Throughout his regional visits Raffi Hovannisian was accompanied by chairman
Hovsep Khurshudian of the Heritage Party’s Oversight Commission, board
member Gevorg Kalenchian, and political secretary Vardan Khachatrian. In
Khachatrian’s words, the party expects that “the police will uncover the
architects of this illegal operation and give a legal evaluation of what
took place.”
That these initiatives of fear and intimidation are centrally orchestrated
is corroborated by the recent unlawful closure of Heritage’s main
headquarters in Yerevan; the surveillance and harassment of party members
throughout the republic and threatening them with imprisonment or loss of
employment; the late-night removal of the Heritage logo from its regional
offices in Aparan, Yeghvard, Sisian, Yegheknadzor, and Kapan; the refusal of
Yegheknadzor mayor Sirak Babayan to sanction a public meeting on May 6; the
refusal of the Armenian government, to provide a standard hall for Heritage’
s upcoming convention; and the informational blockade of Heritage and
Hovannisian presidentially imposed on virtually all electronic media in the
country.
Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central headquarters are located at 7 Vazgen Sargsian Street, Yerevan 0010,
Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 580.877, fax at (374-10)
543.897, and email at [email protected]