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The findings published by the Union of Informed Citizens NGO concerning organized and widespread abuse of administrative resources for the benefit of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia during the campaign for the Republic of Armenia National Assembly election on 2 April 2017 cast doubt on the eligibility of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia to participate in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Two days after publishing the NGO’s findings, which resonated intensively with society, a news website published data concerning the private and family life of Daniel Ioannisyan, a representative of the said organization. This was data that was available only to the Republic of Armenia Police and Investigative Committee and could not be disclosed to anyone other than Daniel Ioannisyan.

The published information on Daniel Ioannisyan’s person and family was prepared solely by the Republic of Armenia Police, serving as a basis for rendering decisions that may not be published, as they had to be protected under the law on protection of personal data. Spreading information on private life is also in violation of Article 144 of the Republic of Armenia Criminal Code and Articles 8 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Thus, the publication of Daniel Ioannisyan’s personal data, which is protected by law, is above all a grave interference with his personal life, which is aimed at exerting pressure personally on Daniel Ioannisyan, because he was the one who published the findings of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO. This is also an explicit act of pressure on the activities of a non-governmental organization.

The fact that one non-governmental organization was able to shed light on the organized and widespread abuse of administrative resources is indicative of not only the inability of law-enforcement agencies in discovering encroachments upon the electoral system—a key institution of a democratic state, but also the direct involvement of law-enforcement agencies in the persecution of a citizen who exposes a state crime.

This style of behavior is typical only of a police state toolkit, incompatible with the principles of democracy and the rule of law, aimed at silencing a citizen and discrediting his civil activity, and inconsistent with the assurances made at the highest levels about conducting free and fair elections.

We, the undersigned organizations:

• Severely deplore the grave violation of Daniel Ioannisyan’s rights and the obvious pressure on the activities of the Union of Informed Citizens NGO;
• Demand immediately stopping their political persecution; and
• Demand the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Special Investigative Service of the Republic of Armenia to initiate a criminal case and to find and punish the law-enforcement representatives that unlawfully disclosed to third parties the personal data of a representative of a non-governmental organization.

This statement is open for joining.

Armavir Development Center

Armavir Civic Youth Center

Artashat Civic Youth Center

Arevamanuk Foundation

Open Society Foundations-Armenia

Biosophia NGO

Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation

Yeghegnadzor Civic Youth Center

Yerevan Press Club

Ecological Rights NGO

EcoLur Information NGO

Fund against Violations of Law NGO

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Journalists’ Club “Asparez”

Ijevan Civic Youth Center

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Information Center for Rights NGO

LogoS Human Rights Defence NGO 

Journalists for the Future NGO

Lukashin Agricultural Association

Dialogue for Peace NGO

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

Khoran Ard Intellectual NGO

Women’s Support Center

Women’s Resource Center Armenia

Cooperation for Democracy Center

Helsinki Committee of Armenia Human Rights Defender NGO

Public Journalism Club

Public Information and Need of Knowledge NGO (PINK-Armenia)

For Equal Rights NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor

Caucasus Research Resource Center – Armenia Foundation

Hrazdan Civic Youth Center

International Center for Human Development

Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO

Media Initiatives Center

New Generation Humanitarian NGO

Vanadzor Civic Youth Center

50/50 Civil Initiative NGO