Armenian Civil Society Activists Attacked: HRW

ARMENIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS ATTACKED: HRW

Focus News, Bulgaria
Sept 12 2013

12 September 2013 | 13:17 | FOCUS News Agency

Yerevan. At least five Armenian civil society activists have been
attacked by unidentified assailants while taking part in recent
protests in the capital Yerevan, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday,
AFP reported.

“A spate of violent attacks against peaceful protesters appears to be
a concerted effort to intimidate activists and should be effectively
investigated,” the New York-based rights group said in a statement.

Two prominent civil society activists were hospitalised last week
after taking part in a protest in Yerevan against Armenian President
Serzh Sarkisian’s decision to join a Russian-led customs union,
the rights group said.

Three youth activists were also attacked in two separate incidents
on August 25 and September 4 after participating in demonstrations
at a municipal building in Yerevan, the statement said.

In a report released last month, Amnesty International said that
activists and journalists in the ex-Soviet state face harassment and
intimidation for questioning mainstream views in the Caucasus nation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS