Amnesty International urges Armenian authorities to investigate
thoroughly attack on two Armenian activists
September 07, 2013 | 14:14
The Armenian authorities must investigate thoroughly and without delay
the brutal attack on two Armenian activists and to ensure that the
perpetrators are brought to justice, Amnesty International said in a
statement.
`The Armenian authorities have committed to ensure that activists can
carry out their work without interference, obstacles, discrimination
or fear of retaliation. To honour this commitment means only one thing
in this particular case - that the attack on the two activists is
investigated impartially and effectively and the perpetrators are
found and brought to justice,' said Denis Krivosheev, Europe and
Central Asia Deputy Programme director.
Suren Saghatelian and Haykak Arshamian were set upon by half a dozen
men, in the courtyard of Haykak's apartment building at around 10 pm
on the night of 5 September.
Haykak Arshamian told Amnesty International he was convinced that they
had been targeted in connection with their civil society activism. He
described the attack as an `assault against civil society and
independent media in Armenia'.
Neither Haykak or Suren are affiliated with any political party or
organisation, but they had been actively involved in protests against
the government's recent decision to join the Eurasian Union.
`Civil society activists must be able to carry out their activities
without interference, obstacles, discrimination or fear of
retaliation. The authorities are obliged to promote the rights to
freedom of expression, assembly and association. Only an effective
investigation will demonstrate that they take their human rights
obligations seriously,' said Denis Krivosheev.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
From: A. Papazian
thoroughly attack on two Armenian activists
September 07, 2013 | 14:14
The Armenian authorities must investigate thoroughly and without delay
the brutal attack on two Armenian activists and to ensure that the
perpetrators are brought to justice, Amnesty International said in a
statement.
`The Armenian authorities have committed to ensure that activists can
carry out their work without interference, obstacles, discrimination
or fear of retaliation. To honour this commitment means only one thing
in this particular case - that the attack on the two activists is
investigated impartially and effectively and the perpetrators are
found and brought to justice,' said Denis Krivosheev, Europe and
Central Asia Deputy Programme director.
Suren Saghatelian and Haykak Arshamian were set upon by half a dozen
men, in the courtyard of Haykak's apartment building at around 10 pm
on the night of 5 September.
Haykak Arshamian told Amnesty International he was convinced that they
had been targeted in connection with their civil society activism. He
described the attack as an `assault against civil society and
independent media in Armenia'.
Neither Haykak or Suren are affiliated with any political party or
organisation, but they had been actively involved in protests against
the government's recent decision to join the Eurasian Union.
`Civil society activists must be able to carry out their activities
without interference, obstacles, discrimination or fear of
retaliation. The authorities are obliged to promote the rights to
freedom of expression, assembly and association. Only an effective
investigation will demonstrate that they take their human rights
obligations seriously,' said Denis Krivosheev.
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
From: A. Papazian