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The apparently fraudulent results of December 6, 2015 Constitutional Referendum imposed by Serzh Sargsyan gave rise to intensified persecution, violence and threats against everybody opposing and criticizing the ruling Republican Party (RPA) authorities.

The arrest of New Armenia (Nor Hayastan) Front member Gevorg Safaryan, initiation of illegal criminal proceedings against him and his apparently baseless detention, as well as the acts of violence and beating of New Armenia Front supporter Suzi Gevorkyan by lurked offenders, continuing violence against active protester Vardges Gaspari, illegal criminal proceedings against Hakaharvats (Counterblow) art group member Artak Gevorgyan, and death threats via social networks against publicist Zara Hovhannisyan and her children not only come to complete the acts of violence of 2015 but rather, due to their nature and manner, constitute new and more violent forms of persecution against free and critical thought.

Having abused the trust of the public at large and tried out all the tricks to distort the social consciousness, Serzh Sargsyan’s regime started targeting any person with free and critical thinking in an attempt to create a climate of fear and bend the public by force to its will.

We hereby strongly condemn the unlawful and inhumane practices of the RPA authorities and require that they urgently abide by the legal framework since Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe.

We hereby require that the criminal prosecutions against Gevorg Safaryan be terminated immediately, and he be released, and those responsible for threats and violence against other civic activists be identified and held liable.

If Serzh Sargsyan’s regime fails to meet the requirements above, it will continue to bear the sole responsibility for any further violence and unlawful acts against civic activists. If such situation persists, it will cause instability, and again the sole responsibility will be borne by Serzh Sargsyan personally and the RPA regime.