PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
September 17, 2007
Heritage Statement on the Brutal Beating of Hovhannes Galajian
The Heritage Party and its parliamentary fraction deplore the vile act
committed, on September 15 against Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief
of Iskakan Iravunk weekly. Galajian was attacked by two assailants and
beaten with metal bars near his place of work.
Regrettably, violent crimes committed against journalists are becoming
more commonplace. These actions take place more frequently during the
pre-election season and remain unexposed for the most part, whereas
their architects and perpetrators continue to enjoy liberty. This
particular malicious act might not have ocurred had our relevant state
bodies uncovered in the past the numerous encroachments upon the free
expression of thought and the right to receive information, and if
certain halls of power and high-level officials had not backed the
criminals and thus obstructed solution of the crimes.
Today, Larisa Alaverdian, Stepan Safarian, and Armen
Martirosian–members of Heritage’s parliamentary group–visited
Hovhannes Galajian, who had just undergone surgery and is still being
kept in the intensive care department at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Hospital. On behalf of the Heritage Party and its parliamentary
delegation, the MPs conveyed their solidarity with the journalist and
fellow citizen.
Condemning this heinous crime, the Heritage Party and parliamentary
group call on the Republic’s law enforcers to reveal the motives
behind, and the executors of, this grave felony. The legitimacy,
dignity, and reputation of the Armenian state, authorities, and all of
us depend on the full disclosure of this transgression and the
bringing of its engineers to justice. The promise of democracy for
Armenia demands no less.
September 17, 2007
Yerevan
Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land.
Its central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002,
Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10)
532.697, email at [email protected] or [email protected], and website
at