Susanna Petrosyan, Yerevan. Exclusively to VK
Civil activity doesn’t calm down in Armenia despite the political "holiday" season. Numerous protests are aimed at the conservation of the environment, against illegal construction in green areas, against the promotion of violence on Armenian TV. The central even was movement for freedom of four young opposition activists of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) condemned of street crimes for various terms.
The persuasion began a year ago after the clash between “red burettes” and seven ANC activists in the center of Yerevan. A criminal case was initiated. The court freed from the charge three young people.
According to the police, the clash took place after policemen remarked on disturbance of public peace by one of citizens. At that moment a group of young people came and interfere with the police work and insulted the police officers.
The opposition stated that the police activities towards members of ANC were provocative. ANC accused the police of violence against its activists and demanded their immediate freedom.
This summer the legal proceeding began. On July 20 the court of Yerevan communities Center and Nork-Marash sent Tigran Arakelyan to 6 years in prison, Artak Karapetyan to 3 years in prison, David Kiramijyan and Sarkis Gevorkyan to 2 years in prison for “resistance to an officer using violence or threats of violence” and for “street crime.”
The lawyer of the condemned stated that he would appeal to the Court of Appeal. The legal procedure was followed by the opposition and human rights defenders. The verdict caused heavy dissatisfaction of society.
The member of the executive council of the party Heritage, Stepan Safaryan, believes that the very strict and inadequate punishment of ANC activists proves that political background lies on the basement of the court decision.
The same opinion is shared by the head of Vanadzor office of Helsinki Civil Assembly, Artur Sakunts: “Regarding the opposition activists, they are politically persuaded. The police officers who got known that the participants of the incident were ANC members began to act aggressively. It confirms political character of the charge.”
According to the head of the Law and Liberty Center, Vardan Arutyunyan, the young people were sent to prison without proving their guilty in court. “Such a charge to the opposition members confirms once again that violence and political persuasion which followed the presidential election of 2008 have not stopped; and ahead of the next presidential elections they have gained new forms,” Arutyunyan believes.
Representatives of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia deny political background in this issue. The Minister of Justice of Armenia, Graijr Tovmasyan, refused to comment the verdict to the ANC activists: “The judge heads the court, not me. My response can be considered pressure on the court.”
