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On June 20, 2016, Jirair Sefilian, a leader of ‘Nor Hayastan’ (‘New Armenia’) political opposition movement, was arrested.

On the same day, in its message on J. Sefilian’s arrest, the RA Investigative Committee presented as grounds the suspicion as to illegal acquisition, transporting and keeping of arms and ammunition by a group of persons, which allegedly aimed to seize some buildings, including the television tower of Yerevan.

The statement issued by the RA Investigative Committee reads that back on May 20, 2016, “2 units of arms and ammunition illegally circulated by the group organized by Jirair Sefilian” were revealed in a vehicle during a traffic accident.

It is noteworthy that no official statement had been issued then on the traffic accident and illegal acquisition of arms and ammunition mentioned by the RA Investigative Committee.  

During the search in J. Sefilian’s apartment by law enforcement agencies, the police officers illegally denied   lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan, J. Sefilian’s advocate, invited by Sefilian’s wife, access to the apartment and restricted Sefilian’s right to legal aid.

Given the ongoing criminal prosecution and pressure against the members of the Founding Parliament lasting for over a year since February 18, 2015 and the unsolved cases of violence and obstacles against them caused by law enforcement agencies, i.e. apparently planned and systematic illegal actions against J. Sefilian and the persons sharing his views, we can clearly see political persecution against actors with the most critical and rigid stance against the authorities.

Being a Council of Europe member state, the Republic of Armenia represented by the current authorities carries on violating the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression and political persecution against opposition politicians, namely political dissidents.

By this statement we condemn the prosecution against and illegal detention of J. Sefilian by declaring such prosecution as political persecution and J. Sefilian as a political prisoner and require that the politically loaded criminal prosecution against J. Sefilian is immediately stopped.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

‘Free Citizen’ (‘Azat Kaghakatsi’) Civic Initiatives Support Center

Journalists for Human Rights NGO

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

LogoS Human Rights NGO

‘Borders of our Rights’ Human Rights NGO

Lilit Hovhannisyan

Sose Women’s Issues NGO

Open Society Foundations – Armenia

Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO

Helsinki Committee of Armenia

‘Hamaynki Zarkerak’ YNGO

Peace Dialogue NGO

New Generation Humanitarian NGO

Armavir Development Center

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression 

Asparez Journalists’ Club

‘Araks Center’ Benevolent NGO

Children Society Youth Initiatives Support Center NGO

Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

Society without Violence NGO

‘Spiritual Armenia’ NGO

Civic Forum NGO

Journalists for Human Rights NGO

Biosophia NGO

Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Family and Community NGO

Third Nature NGO

Unison NGO

Europe in Law Association Human Rights NGO

‘Kaghni’ NGO

‘Trtu’ Cultural NGO

Media Initiatives Center

Spitak Helsinki Group human rights NGO

www.mitk.am news and analysis website

‘Khoran Ard’ Intellectual Center NGO

Ejmiatsin Branch of Association of Women with University Education

Coalition to Stop Violence against Women

The Armenian Center for National and International Studies

The statement is open for signature.