‘Tell Brussels Armenian citizens are shaming you’: Protest held outside EU office in Yerevan

Panorama
Armenia – July 4 2022

Armenian MP Gegham Manukyan of the opposition Hayastan alliance on Monday pressed the EU Delegation in Armenia on its failure to speak about human rights violations in the country over the past four years.

Speaking at a protest held by the resistance movement outside the EU Delegation office in central Yerevan, he accused employees of the organization of turning a blind eye to the incumbent authorities’ unlawful conduct, pressure on Armenian courts and political persecutions against opposition activists ordered by them.

Demonstrators gathered outside the EU office holding photos of activists arrested during the protests in Yerevan, as well as a photo of EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin and the former acting head of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), Gagik Jhangiryan, sitting side by side.

“By remaining silent, they have turned this building into a shameful place,” the oppositionist said.

He urged the EU Delegation members to be “honest” with the EU headquarters in Brussels.

“Tell them that dignified citizens of Armenia are shaming you for supporting dictatorship, remaining silent to the beatings of protesters near the EU Delegation office a few weeks ago as well as the arrests of hundreds of citizens,” Manukyan said.

"The leadership of the delegation must be changed urgently so that the attitude towards the structure changes as well," he added.