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TWO KARABAKH WAR VETS RETURN MEDALS OVER BERDZOR INCIDENT
NEWS | 24.02.15 | 10:35
Two veterans of the Karabakh war have returned their medals over an
incident that happened in Berdzor in Karabakh last month and in which
dozens of opposition activists participating in an automobile march
towards Stepanakert were beaten up by local police.
Enlarge Photo
Pavel Manukyan and Armen Lambaryan gave up a total of 11 medals,
saying that they could not wear the same medals that are also worn by
"bandits".
Both men are supporters of the hard-line opposition movement called
Founding Parliament, whose members were assaulted by police as well
as plainclothes men on January 31 as they planned to enter Karabakh
and conduct actions there as part of their campaign for regime change
in Armenia.
The Karabakh police defended the use of force, saying that they
prevented "mass disturbances". But leading opposition parties and
human rights activists in Armenia condemned the violence.
At a press conference on Monday, war veteran Manukyan described the
incident as a blow against the dignity of the Armenian people.
"If a bandit and a soldier can wear the same medal, then it is already
incompatible," he said.
Manukyan and Lambaryan believe other war veterans will also follow
their example and will return their medals.
Earlier this month two other supporters of the Founding Parliament
movement who participated in the Karabakh movement and war already
gave up their medals as a sign of protest against the Berdzor incident.
http://armenianow.com/news/60889/armenia_war_veterans_return_medals
http://armenianow.com/news/60889/armenia_war_veterans_return_medals
NEWS | 24.02.15 | 10:35
Two veterans of the Karabakh war have returned their medals over an
incident that happened in Berdzor in Karabakh last month and in which
dozens of opposition activists participating in an automobile march
towards Stepanakert were beaten up by local police.
Enlarge Photo
Pavel Manukyan and Armen Lambaryan gave up a total of 11 medals,
saying that they could not wear the same medals that are also worn by
"bandits".
Both men are supporters of the hard-line opposition movement called
Founding Parliament, whose members were assaulted by police as well
as plainclothes men on January 31 as they planned to enter Karabakh
and conduct actions there as part of their campaign for regime change
in Armenia.
The Karabakh police defended the use of force, saying that they
prevented "mass disturbances". But leading opposition parties and
human rights activists in Armenia condemned the violence.
At a press conference on Monday, war veteran Manukyan described the
incident as a blow against the dignity of the Armenian people.
"If a bandit and a soldier can wear the same medal, then it is already
incompatible," he said.
Manukyan and Lambaryan believe other war veterans will also follow
their example and will return their medals.
Earlier this month two other supporters of the Founding Parliament
movement who participated in the Karabakh movement and war already
gave up their medals as a sign of protest against the Berdzor incident.
http://armenianow.com/news/60889/armenia_war_veterans_return_medals
http://armenianow.com/news/60889/armenia_war_veterans_return_medals