Tweet
Vardges Gaspari Speaks About the Police and Political Prisoners (VIDEO)
10.25.2014 12:39 epress.am
Police have charged activist Vardges Gaspari with 12 administrative
and 1 criminal cases, 2 civil lawsuits, his bank accounts have been
under arrest, his teenage son's disability benefits are transferred to
the police, while he is not able to leave the country for business
trips. While Epress.am spoke with Gaspari, he stated he is not
considering leaving the country, because it would mean putting an X on
his years long struggle.
Gaspari, nevertheless, notes that the Police's treatment and Police
Chief Vladimir Gasparyan threatening speeches directed toward him,
definitely inhibit him. According to him, during his picketing and
protests, he was subjected to violence multiple times by the police,
especially, when he received an injury to his spine, which the police
responsible were never punished.
Gaspari stresses that the ruling authorities use buffer zones
(bureaucratic hierarchy), during social movements and protests to keep
distance from the people, which needs to be overcome. "I don't
understand, when people say the judge is not guilty when deciding a
verdict, he's getting the order from above him. When I'm protesting in
front of Serzh Sargsyan's house, the police can say, as they tell
others, 'brother, I'll have a problem because of you.' People say what
should that cop do, he's getting commands from his superior. But no
one thinks at that moment that the police are violating your right to
protest. When lining those buffers, the authorities become intangible
and unreachable (to the people). That's why I organize protests
directly in front of Serzh Sargsyan's house," said Gaspari.
While referring to Armenia's political prisoners, Vardges Gaspari
considers it important to focus on how they are being treated in
prison. He noted that Armen Hovhannisyan, a political prisoner
included in Shant Harutyunyan and his friend's case, stated during a
court hearing that his life was being threatened, which proper
attention was not given the public, while in fact, it is a serious
issue.
The activist stressed that at the end of Hovhannisyans' speech he
notes that he will continue to struggle for his ideals, and people
"gave him an ovation," but the most important part to comprehend is
what it means when a person is sitting in jail, in a closed system and
says that his life is in danger.
Video in Armenian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsWzc6ZYll0
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/10/25/259068.html
10.25.2014 12:39 epress.am
Police have charged activist Vardges Gaspari with 12 administrative
and 1 criminal cases, 2 civil lawsuits, his bank accounts have been
under arrest, his teenage son's disability benefits are transferred to
the police, while he is not able to leave the country for business
trips. While Epress.am spoke with Gaspari, he stated he is not
considering leaving the country, because it would mean putting an X on
his years long struggle.
Gaspari, nevertheless, notes that the Police's treatment and Police
Chief Vladimir Gasparyan threatening speeches directed toward him,
definitely inhibit him. According to him, during his picketing and
protests, he was subjected to violence multiple times by the police,
especially, when he received an injury to his spine, which the police
responsible were never punished.
Gaspari stresses that the ruling authorities use buffer zones
(bureaucratic hierarchy), during social movements and protests to keep
distance from the people, which needs to be overcome. "I don't
understand, when people say the judge is not guilty when deciding a
verdict, he's getting the order from above him. When I'm protesting in
front of Serzh Sargsyan's house, the police can say, as they tell
others, 'brother, I'll have a problem because of you.' People say what
should that cop do, he's getting commands from his superior. But no
one thinks at that moment that the police are violating your right to
protest. When lining those buffers, the authorities become intangible
and unreachable (to the people). That's why I organize protests
directly in front of Serzh Sargsyan's house," said Gaspari.
While referring to Armenia's political prisoners, Vardges Gaspari
considers it important to focus on how they are being treated in
prison. He noted that Armen Hovhannisyan, a political prisoner
included in Shant Harutyunyan and his friend's case, stated during a
court hearing that his life was being threatened, which proper
attention was not given the public, while in fact, it is a serious
issue.
The activist stressed that at the end of Hovhannisyans' speech he
notes that he will continue to struggle for his ideals, and people
"gave him an ovation," but the most important part to comprehend is
what it means when a person is sitting in jail, in a closed system and
says that his life is in danger.
Video in Armenian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsWzc6ZYll0
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/10/25/259068.html