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December 4, 2013, Yerevan

STATEMENT

We, the representatives of the civil society of the Republic of Armenia, strongly condemn the illegal actions undertaken by the RA Police against persons excising their rights and freedoms    in Yerevan on December 2, 2013. We demand quitting the violence and political persecutions exerted against citizens and subject the police officials having initiated illegalities to responsibility.

On the occasion of RF President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in Armenia a number of events were held in Yerevan on December 2, 2013 by the initiative of the civil initiatives in order to express their protest against Serzh Sargsyan’s one-person and ungrounded decision of joining the Customs Union and to protect the principle of sovereignty stipulated by the RA Constitution.  During the aforementioned events the RA police violated the citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and peaceful assemblies. Over hundreds of citizens, including journalists carrying out their professional activities, were forcefully and without any proper justification apprehended to different departments of Yerevan Police. Besides, the RA authorities forced hundreds of citizens to leave their working places against their will and participate in various events organized within the frames of V. Putin’s reception.

The arrests of civil activists began back early in the morning when they were attempting to post protest posters in various parts of the city. The police officers persecuted certain citizens and visited their flats with an aim to apprehend them. In the afternoon, the urgent peaceful assembly, properly informed and organized in the procedure defined by the RA law, was impeded. Through various methods the Police restricted the procession of citizens, damaged the protestors’ posters, instigated clashes, applied threats and physical pressures as well as forcefully apprehended them to police departments without legal grounds. The “hunting” of activists obtained a greater force after the march was over and for several hours incessantly the police officials persecuted and apprehended citizens from various parts of the city by keeping them in custody longer than foreseen by the RA legislation.  The access and meeting of the RA National Assembly MPs, advocates, representatives from Human Defender’s office with detainees was obstructed in the police departments. Moreover, the persona data of apprehended persons were published via the Police official website by violating their right to privacy by threatening their security and impeding the proper implementation of administrative proceedings in relation to them.

It is noteworthy that the “security” measures of the RA Police and the ratio between the number of citizens apprehended by them and the number of assembly participants was unprecedented. There was actually a state of emergency in Yerevan and Gyumri, places to be visited by V. Putin, which was obviously an expression of wheedling the RF president by the RA authorities. A question arises in case of the aforementioned illegalities, how effectively were the funds allocated to the RA Police by international organizations for several years, aimed at the development of democracy, human rights and management fields, spent?

The aforementioned actions of the RA Police are grave violations of the principles of freedom of movement, freedom of expression and assembly as set forth by the RA Constitution, international agreements and domestic legislation. Such a treatment against the RA citizens testifies that the RA authorities are not going to adhere to democratic principles and respect human rights despite their numerous statements. Such behavior typical to authoritarian states is entirely consistent with the policy adopted by the RA government to join the Customs Union and Eurasian Union. Therefore, the accession of the Republic of Armenia to such structures  is a challenge for each citizen of our country in terms of protecting his/her freedom and dignity, deciding upon his/her own future and getting rid of the bodies having appropriated people’s power and having put up the country’s independence for sale.

“Transparency International Anticorruption Center” NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office NGO

“Youth for Democracy” NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, Armenia NGO

“Helsinki Committee of Armenia”

Journalists Club “Asparez” NGO

“Yerevan Press Club” NGO

“Center for right and freedom” NGO

“Spiritual Armenia” NGO

Committee to protect freedom of expression

Collaboration for Democracy Center

“Helsinki Initiative-92” NGO

“Against Legal Arbitrariness” NGO

“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO