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  • Opposition MP Attacked: ANC Condemns "Politically Motivated" Violenc

    OPPOSITION MP ATTACKED: ANC CONDEMNS "POLITICALLY MOTIVATED" VIOLENCE AGAINST ARAM MANUKYAN

    NEWS | 12.12.14 | 10:21
    http://armenianow.com/news/59278/armenia_aram_manukyan_attack_armenian_national_con gress

    Photolure

    By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
    ArmeniaNow reporter

    Police in Armenia are looking for clues to identify the person who
    attacked and beat up an opposition lawmaker in front of his house
    Thursday evening.

    Aram Manukyan, a senior member of the opposition Armenian National
    Congress (ANC), was confronted by an unknown assailant as he was
    returning home at around 8 pm.

    Manukyan, who is secretary of the ANC parliamentary faction and is
    known for his harsh criticism of the government, suffered injuries
    in the attack that a party representative said was likely to be
    politically motivated.

    The attacker did not say anything to Manukyan, but at once started
    hitting him in the face, spokesperson Arman Musinyan told media. He
    said the attack could be connected with the lawmaker's political
    activities since Manukyan is a "classical political figure". He added,
    however, that Manukyan had not received any threats lately. According
    to Musinyan, there is a surveillance camera in the area and it is
    possible that there is footage that could help police indentify
    the assailant.

    It is not yet clear whether this latest incident is connected with a
    series of other attacks against opposition figures. Three prominent
    Karabakh war veterans known for their opposition views also suffered
    injuries in similar attacks launched by unknown persons in recent days.

    Speaking to reporters, ANC parliamentary faction head Levon Zurabyan
    insisted that the attack against Manukyan was the continuation of
    the same chain of attacks that he said were aimed at intimidating
    and silencing the opposition and its supporters. He stressed that
    the police must immediately disclose the crimes.

    "The authorities are trying to silence the popular movement, but
    they do not realize that people's hatred is only growing stronger,"
    Zurabyan emphasized.

    Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also a
    spokesperson for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, said: "Any
    offense is unacceptable for our party. Solving issues by strong-arm
    methods is condemnable. The matter is in the legal domain."

    Online social media also reacted strongly to the attack against the
    opposition figure, with many on Facebook suggesting that violent
    methods are being used in Armenia now to silence dissent.

    David Sanasaryan, of the Heritage party, described the attack against
    Aram Manukyan as "punitive arbitrariness". "Folks, it is we who are
    being hit, but what we do is either being silent or offering them
    the other cheek."

    Manukyan refused to speak to media immediately, saying that he will
    issue a statement later on. A representative of the Ombudsman's office
    visited the lawmaker.


    From: Baghdasarian
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