Armenia: Pro-Ter-Petrossian Civil Society Speaks

Unzipped posts the full text of a statement issued by a grouping of local civil society organizations against the current authorities following the recent presidential election in Armenia and the post-election situation in the country. Many of the organizations are directly or indirectly linked to the radical opposition and former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian.

In the wake of the lifting of state of emergency the Armenian authorities unleashed a new wave of violence and intimidations. Having adopted Soviet KGB methods, the Armenian police and National Security Service subject unprotected people to organized repressions.

Without any grounding or explanation, citizens are detained in broad daylight and forcibly taken to police stations, thus any occasional person walking by may fall a victim to such violence. Only in the police station is their identity revealed, their participation in March 1 rally attempted to be clarified, they are subjected to psychological pressure and intimidation.

The scale of such violence increases day by day. The Armenian authorities arbitrarily violate constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms of the people.