HERITAGE HEADQUARTERS STILL UNDER LOCK
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07:38 pm 13 March, 2006
Yerevan-Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of the Heritage Party, today
sent a communique to Armenia’s Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepian and
Police Chief Haik Harutiunian in regard to the unlawful operation
carried out against its main office on March 4.
The forcible closure of the Heritage’s premises, it states, has de
facto resulted in the unconstitutional and illegal cessation of
party’s activity. “The party’s archives, its seal, all documents
necessary for normal operations, as well as personal and family
belongings are at the office. Hence, I formally request that you
consider this as a declaration concerning an act entailing criminal
elements, give the relevant legal assessment of what has occurred,
and bring those responsible to justice,” the statement concludes.
On March 9, upon his return from Europe, where he had taken part in an
international forum on regional security and a number of meetings,
Raffi Hovannisian spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian, who committed in short order to address and resolve the
continuing illegality.
The next day, on March 10, Hovannisian sent a letter to the director of
the Hakob Paronian Musical Comedy State Theater, proposing that pending
the Prime Minister’s formal directive the shameful violation of the
right of access to his own place of work be immediately removed. No
response has been received to date.