MEMBERS OF FOUNDING PARLIAMENT UNDERGO POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS
14:22, April 7, 2015 | Announcements, OwnMEMBERS OF FOUNDING PARLIAMENT UNDERGO POLITICAL PERSECUTIONS
On April 7, 2015, since 6:30 am the RA National Security Service and the RA Investigative Committee have carried out on the whole territory of the Republic of Armenia the so-called “Capture” (Russian: «Захват», Armenian: «Գերևարում») operation accompanied by searches in the apartments of the Founding Parliament Members, their apprehension and arrests.
Throughout the searches, apprehension and arrests, the basic rights of the Founding Parliament members, particularly the right to an advocate, were violated. The searches and apprehensions were accompanied with obvious use of force. Particularly, the search of the apartment of Hovh. Ghazaryan, Founding Parliament Vanadzor Office was conducted by 15-20 police officers.
Currently, the “urgent investigative actions and intelligence activities” are in progress.
The statement of the RA Investigation Committee reads that a criminal case was instigated under Articles 35-225 of the RA Criminal Code. So far, computers, phones, electronic information carriers and documents about the activities of the Founding Parliament have been confiscated as means and tools “to be used to prepare and hold mass riots”.
We hereby consider the measures taken by the RA National Security Service and the RA Investigative Committee to be illegal acts against the citizens of the RA aiming to suppress and limit their constitutional rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Obviously, it is only Serzh Sargsyan who can order such illegal activities.
The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor qualifies the actions of the RA National Security Service and the Investigative Committee as unconstitutional and immoral and as a political persecution, with the entire responsibility borne by the RA political authorities.
Vanadzor, April 7, 2015.