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SAKUNTS TO OBAMA: "YOU UNDERTOOK IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FALSIFICATIONS BY CONGRATULATING THOSE WHO FALSIFIED THE ELECTIONS"
http://hetq.am/eng/news/24074/sakunts-to-obama-you-undertook-immediate-responsibility-for-the-falsifications-by-congratulating-those-who-falsified-the-elections.html
14:34, March 4, 2013
Dear Mr. President of the United States,
On March 2, 2013, the Armenian media disseminated your congratulatory
message to the acting president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh
Sargsyan on being re-elected as the president of Armenia on February
18, 2013.
Your congratulation came right when the OSCE/ODIHR disseminated their
post-election interim report (March 2, 2013), which emphasized the
public distrust toward the election results and numerous facts and
justifications for this distrust, including the correlation between
the high turnout and the number of votes for Serzh Sargsyan, which
duly raises concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Your congratulation was disseminated when Amnesty International
released a statement (February 28, 2013) demanding that a proper
investigation be carried out on the reported human rights violations
which took place on February 18, 2012.
I and a number of colleagues and fellows received Universal Rights
Awards from the US Government on June 4, 2012, and the US Secretary
of State, Hillary Clinton was present at the official ceremony. We
were excited about the support from the government of a democratic
state to those of us fighting for the establishment of human rights
and democracy.
Although local nationalists again labeled us as traitors, implementers
of color revolutions, agents defaming our state for foreign money
and so on, these qualifications were not new to us. And they never
lead us in our human rights activity.
However your congratulation is absolutely inappropriate for these
elections, which were accompanied by flagrant fraud and violations.
You undertook immediate responsibility for the falsifications by
congratulating those who falsified the elections, who are directly
responsible for human rights transgressions, systemic and organized
violations, transgressions and destruction of democratic values. In
this case, we do not have any guarantee that Armenia will not turn
into another Belarus.
Now I am wondering if I deserve to bear the Freedom Defender Award,
which was awarded by the government of a democratic state, which is
now apparently siding with an oppressor of freedom.
With this letter, I express my deepest concern about your position and
expect to hear your comments on the issues raised in the letter. I will
be able to make a final decision based on your response and comments.
With regards,
Artur Sakunts Chairman of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor
http://hetq.am/eng/news/24074/sakunts-to-obama-you-undertook-immediate-responsibility-for-the-falsifications-by-congratulating-those-who-falsified-the-elections.html
14:34, March 4, 2013
Dear Mr. President of the United States,
On March 2, 2013, the Armenian media disseminated your congratulatory
message to the acting president of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh
Sargsyan on being re-elected as the president of Armenia on February
18, 2013.
Your congratulation came right when the OSCE/ODIHR disseminated their
post-election interim report (March 2, 2013), which emphasized the
public distrust toward the election results and numerous facts and
justifications for this distrust, including the correlation between
the high turnout and the number of votes for Serzh Sargsyan, which
duly raises concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Your congratulation was disseminated when Amnesty International
released a statement (February 28, 2013) demanding that a proper
investigation be carried out on the reported human rights violations
which took place on February 18, 2012.
I and a number of colleagues and fellows received Universal Rights
Awards from the US Government on June 4, 2012, and the US Secretary
of State, Hillary Clinton was present at the official ceremony. We
were excited about the support from the government of a democratic
state to those of us fighting for the establishment of human rights
and democracy.
Although local nationalists again labeled us as traitors, implementers
of color revolutions, agents defaming our state for foreign money
and so on, these qualifications were not new to us. And they never
lead us in our human rights activity.
However your congratulation is absolutely inappropriate for these
elections, which were accompanied by flagrant fraud and violations.
You undertook immediate responsibility for the falsifications by
congratulating those who falsified the elections, who are directly
responsible for human rights transgressions, systemic and organized
violations, transgressions and destruction of democratic values. In
this case, we do not have any guarantee that Armenia will not turn
into another Belarus.
Now I am wondering if I deserve to bear the Freedom Defender Award,
which was awarded by the government of a democratic state, which is
now apparently siding with an oppressor of freedom.
With this letter, I express my deepest concern about your position and
expect to hear your comments on the issues raised in the letter. I will
be able to make a final decision based on your response and comments.
With regards,
Artur Sakunts Chairman of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor