PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:
March 6, 2007
NCI Tackles the Issue of Political Prisoners
Yerevan–Today the National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI), together with the
parliamentary group that is investigating the true motives behind the recent
arrests of Colonels Zhirair Sefilian and Vardan Malkhasian, devoted
volunteers of the national quest for liberty and self-defense, convened a
roundtable to examine the real reasons for these arrests. The meeting
brought together social and political activists, human rights advocates, NGO
officials, MPs, and media representatives.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with opening
remarks. "The widespread corruption, permissiveness, and
arbitrariness–demonstrated by the very public seizure of Sefilian and
Malkhasian nearly three months ago–by the ruling clique are growing worse.
What is more, in the run-up to the parliamentary elections they are becoming
more apparent," he said.
In his intervention, Aram G. Sargsian, member of the investigative group of
parliament, briefly presented its preliminary findings. He explained the
formation of the parliamentary group by stating that the arrests of these
freedom fighters are more political than criminal in context. He also added
that such unlawful actions must be prevented in concert with the body
politic. "Instead of the real criminals, they are apprehending national
heroes," Sargsian maintained.
Defense attorney Vahe Grigorian pointed to the absence of any legal
justification for keeping Sefilian and Malkhasian in custody. "All matters
have been cleared up and therefore it is absurd that they are still
incarcerated," he asserted. In Grigorian’s words, his client Zhirair
Sefilian is refusing to provide testimony to the investigators because he is
convinced that they are mere lackeys and blindly carry out the political
instructions given from "above."
MP Hmayak Hovhannisian reflected on the Armenian version of Article 301,
which clearly curtails the freedom of speech in the country. He recommended
that this provision be removed from the Criminal Code.
The next speaker, Armen Aghayan of the "Defense of Liberated Territories"
public initiative, spoke about the political motives behind the criminal
persecutions unleashed against Sefilian and Malkhasian. Aghayan also
presented a pamphlet containing Zhirair Sefilian’s responses given to the
questions posed to him by the parliamentarians. In the pamphlet, Sefilian
stipulates in particular that if calling for a change in government is a
crime then at least half of Armenia’s population should be put on trial.
The remainder of the session was dedicated to exchanges of views and
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in
attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by Armenia’s first Ombudswoman
Larisa Alaverdian; Academician Lenser Aghalovian; MPs Gagik Kostandian,
Albert Bazeyan, Stepan Zakarian, and Hrant Khachatrian; publicist Hrair
Ulubabian; Arsen Kharatian of the "Scientific Development" NGO; former MP
Khachik Stamboltsian; Sefilian’s long-time friend Garegin Ghazarian; and
several others.
In his closing remarks, Hovsep Khurshudian underlined that "not only
Sefilian and Malkhasian, but all of society is in need of liberation.
Sefilian is not giving testimony, but instead the public resonance, one
example of which is today’s roundtable, is speaking in his favor."
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded
in December 2001 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of
realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the
state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative
is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and
representatives of various public, scientific, and educational
establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration,
Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and
the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit