“100 Armenian Women” initiative issued a statement.

“One week ago, the “100 Armenian Women” initiative, which includes scientists, cultural figures, entrepreneurs, various fields and civil leaders, sent an urgent appeal to foreign diplomatic missions and international structures accredited in Armenia, including the US Embassy, ​​the EU delegation, the UN, the Council of Europe, the UK Embassy, ​​high-ranking EU representatives, embassies of all EU countries and other organizations.

The application presented in detail the worrying reality that is deepening in Armenia day by day, in particular. The complete subjugation of the judiciary to the executive, the targeted prosecutions and lengthy, arbitrary detentions of political and civil opponents, including women leaders, the illegal use of police force and an incredible increase in repression at the state level, unconstitutional violations of property rights, the de facto seizure of companies and massive economic repression of opponents.

In order to protect the participants of the initiative from state prosecutions, arbitrary arrests and professional pressures, we initially applied to all organizations under the condition of confidentiality, however, the seven-day stone silence of the international community has passed seven days after sending the application. In the conditions of seven days of judicial violations, arbitrary arrests and violation of civil rights, those international structures and diplomatic representatives, which declared themselves guardians of democracy and the rule of law, maintain a deafening silence. This passivity is not neutrality. this is a manifestation of diplomatic adaptation, which legitimizes state crimes in Armenia and sends an impulse of absolute impunity to the executive power. Today we reject that silence and present our collective speech to the public. We take this step fully aware of the serious personal, legal and professional risks involved. However, when secrecy serves only to hide state wrongdoing from the eyes of the international community, anonymity becomes an unacceptable compromise.

We declare with full responsibility. if any participant of this initiative is subject to state repression, arbitrary persecution or professional pressure after this announcement, the responsibility will also be borne by the international community, whose silence makes these illegalities possible at the RA state level. Our Demand We call on international partners, accredited ambassadors and multilateral institutions. Publicly break this chain of silence. Give a clear and objective assessment of the loss of independence of the judiciary, the practice of using detention as a punitive tool, and the state policy of targeting political and civil opponents and public voices. Officially respond to the applications submitted by the civil society. End the practice of silently archiving urgent civil society alerts and form an accountable, transparent dialogue with independent civil society. Make any international support conditional on the full protection of human rights. Ensure that the diplomatic, financial and political partnership with RA is strictly conditioned by the actual fulfillment of international obligations, and not by political expediency.

We did not make our professional merits to silently observe how the democratic foundations of our country are systematically destroyed. Armenia’s democratic future cannot be sacrificed to diplomatic adaptation. We expect an early response to our public call,” the statement of the initiative states.

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