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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
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