The “My step” faction of the National Assembly made a statement regarding March 1. The statement was presented by Lilit Makunts, head of the NA “My step” faction.

According to Makunts, it is important to give a political evaluation to the events of March 1, 2008, preceding and following it. It is also necessary to guarantee the unimpeded realization of the right to hold peaceful, unarmed gatherings in Armenia.

The statement says:

“Emphasizing the need to give a political assessment to the events of March 1, 2008, preceding and following it,

underlining the need to guarantee the unhindered realization of the right to hold peaceful, weapon-free assemblies in the Republic of Armenia, valuing the rooting of public solidarity,

strongly condemning the actions of the authorities aimed at repressing the peaceful uprising of citizens caused by mistrust of the 2008 presidential elections, during which, according to official data, ten citizens were killed and hundreds were injured,

considering the widespread political repression following March 1 as unacceptable: arbitrary arrests, verdicts on trumped-up charges, intimidation of citizens by the power structures, unilateral propaganda of cases of unjustified dismissal, restrictions on freedom of speech, press and assembly, the authorities’ way of working:

“My step” faction announces:

1. As a result of proper protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, bringing the culprits to justice as a result of a comprehensive, full and objective investigation of the events of March 1 is a historical imperative, which will serve as a message to all RA authorities, to exclude the repetition of one of the blackest pages in the country’s recent history, to restore justice and solidarity, as well as to strengthen the assembly.

2. To provide fair compensation to those injured as a result of the March events and to the successors of the victims.

3. Protection of the right to life is the primary responsibility of the state.

Accordingly, causing the death of RA citizens Samvel Harutyunyan, Tigran Khachatryan, Davit Petrosyan, Armen Farmanyan, Zakar Hovhannisyan, Hamlet Tadevosyan, Gor Kloyyan, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan, Tigran Abgaryan and Grigor Gevorgyan cannot be justified or remain unpunished.

4. We remember and pay tribute to the victims of March 1st and undertake to make efforts both at the legislative level and in the political culture in general, to make such changes that will create guarantees to exclude future violence and political pressures in social processes, in the direction of citizens exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms freely.”