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PRESS RELEASE
MEDIA CENTER in YEREVAN
30 Saryan str.
Tel: +37460 505 898
+37499 755 898
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.media-center.am/
The Public Protests and Authorities' Response after the Outrageous
Murder in Gyumri
Media Center, January 19, 2015: Those who demanded the 2015 Gyumri
murder to be investigated in Armenia were labeled as opposition, with
their position being described as anti-Russian whilst the events grew
into a hot-button issue. Such opinion was expressed by the speakers
today at the Media Center hosted press conference. The speakers
included: Hranush Kharatyan, ethnographer; Zaruhi Muradyan, artist;
and Karine Danielyan, head of the Association for Human Sustainable
Development.
`The Armenian President's first response to the outrageous murder in
Gyumri was adequate but social networks were flooded with statements
calling for people not to stir Russophobia as the national identity of
a criminal is not decisive. Yet, his national identity and the Russian
military base in Gyumri are objective reality. These statements have
shaped the further events,' said Hranush Kharatyan.
With respect to Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement on
January 18, Kharatyan commented that the statement suggests suspect
Valery Permyakov, soldier at the 102th Russian Military Base, will be
tried according to Russian law.
`Putin's statement that Permyakov will be tried and punished by the
full extent of the law means the soldier will be tried in Russia
because Putin can issue such statements only for Russia and never for
Armenia,' added Kharatyan.
The public, speakers believe, have reacted more prudently to the
recent events, without any demand which might be out of Armenia's
jurisdiction.
The Armenian officials chose an ostrich policy, as Karine Danielyan
described, which had a reverse effect and sparked protests.
`The protestors in Gyumri and rallies in Yerevan, with their proper
response, saved the repute of Armenian authorities who seemed to have
slipped into a coma.
The official response is likely to be their counteraction to the
rallies. Moreover, detaining protestors was absolutely inadequate,'
said Zaruhi Muradyan.
Earlier, over thirty protestors were detained at the rallies in
Yerevan.
The statement made by Gevorg Kostanyan, General Prosecutor of Armenia,
suggests that suspect Valery Permyakov may be tried inside the
geographical borders of Armenia but never according to terms of
Armenian law and investigation, Kharatyan said.
`Kostanyan's words poured oil on the flames .... I must admit that our
authorities have betrayed the public in two ways: first, they
disgraced protests and riots, and secondly, what we have is nothing
but an outrageous crime and people want to know the motivation,' added
Kharatyan.
Please follow the link to watch the full video
(http://media-center.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9e017eb9f27e3e73d24562014&id=d7867222c7&e= d738d7b3b2)
of the discussion.
From: A. Papazian
MEDIA CENTER in YEREVAN
30 Saryan str.
Tel: +37460 505 898
+37499 755 898
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.media-center.am/
The Public Protests and Authorities' Response after the Outrageous
Murder in Gyumri
Media Center, January 19, 2015: Those who demanded the 2015 Gyumri
murder to be investigated in Armenia were labeled as opposition, with
their position being described as anti-Russian whilst the events grew
into a hot-button issue. Such opinion was expressed by the speakers
today at the Media Center hosted press conference. The speakers
included: Hranush Kharatyan, ethnographer; Zaruhi Muradyan, artist;
and Karine Danielyan, head of the Association for Human Sustainable
Development.
`The Armenian President's first response to the outrageous murder in
Gyumri was adequate but social networks were flooded with statements
calling for people not to stir Russophobia as the national identity of
a criminal is not decisive. Yet, his national identity and the Russian
military base in Gyumri are objective reality. These statements have
shaped the further events,' said Hranush Kharatyan.
With respect to Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement on
January 18, Kharatyan commented that the statement suggests suspect
Valery Permyakov, soldier at the 102th Russian Military Base, will be
tried according to Russian law.
`Putin's statement that Permyakov will be tried and punished by the
full extent of the law means the soldier will be tried in Russia
because Putin can issue such statements only for Russia and never for
Armenia,' added Kharatyan.
The public, speakers believe, have reacted more prudently to the
recent events, without any demand which might be out of Armenia's
jurisdiction.
The Armenian officials chose an ostrich policy, as Karine Danielyan
described, which had a reverse effect and sparked protests.
`The protestors in Gyumri and rallies in Yerevan, with their proper
response, saved the repute of Armenian authorities who seemed to have
slipped into a coma.
The official response is likely to be their counteraction to the
rallies. Moreover, detaining protestors was absolutely inadequate,'
said Zaruhi Muradyan.
Earlier, over thirty protestors were detained at the rallies in
Yerevan.
The statement made by Gevorg Kostanyan, General Prosecutor of Armenia,
suggests that suspect Valery Permyakov may be tried inside the
geographical borders of Armenia but never according to terms of
Armenian law and investigation, Kharatyan said.
`Kostanyan's words poured oil on the flames .... I must admit that our
authorities have betrayed the public in two ways: first, they
disgraced protests and riots, and secondly, what we have is nothing
but an outrageous crime and people want to know the motivation,' added
Kharatyan.
Please follow the link to watch the full video
(http://media-center.us4.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=9e017eb9f27e3e73d24562014&id=d7867222c7&e= d738d7b3b2)
of the discussion.
From: A. Papazian