PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
7 Vazgen Sargsian Street
Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 58.08.77, 52.22.38
Fax: (+374 – 10) 54.38.97
Email: info@heritage.am; office@heritage.am
Website:

May 23, 2006

The Subsequent Impediment Against Heritage Party

Yerevan–On May 20, Heritage Party Chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian accompanied
by high-ranking party members was paying a visit to the Armavir region to
hold consultations with members of the party’s local divisions. At his first
stop, at Miasnikyan, it became apparent that the visit was being watched by
the local police department. Before the meeting, the law enforcement bodies
had questioned Heritage Party’s local representative about the objective and
time of the visit, about the members of the visiting delegation, and had
insisted that they be informed as soon as the delegation arrived.

The meeting at Miasnikian was not over when word came from the town of
Armavir. There, party’s local staff member Levon Margarian was taken into
custody. He was told that the local law enforcement body knew about the
forthcoming visit of Raffi Hovannisian and the other senior party members.
The police demanded that he make sure that the meeting did not take place
otherwise they would use force to disrupt it.

Upon arrival at Armavir, the Heritage Party leadership saw the local police
units standing on the sidewalk across the party’s regional division
headquarters. It was apparent that they were called to intimidate and ensure
that the meeting did not take place. This notwithstanding, the get-together
between the party leadership and local residents did take place. Afterward,
Raffi Hovannisian went to the local police precinct and informed of his wish
to meet with the district police chief, Colonel Gevorgian. Initially, he was
told that this would be arranged in 15 minutes, but later he was informed
that Gevorgian had convened an urgent meeting and could not meet him. Talks
with the deputy police chief or any other person in command were also ruled
out under the same pretext. Subsequently, the request for a formal
explanation was submitted to the officer on duty, Lieutenant Melkonian.

It is clear that all this was centrally orchestrated. On May 22, the
executive board of the Heritage Party forwarded a letter to Armenia’s Police
Chief Haik Harutiunian requesting him to give an explanation and assessment
of these unlawful and unconstitutional acts.

Throughout his visits Raffi K. Hovannisian was accompanied by chairman
Hovsep Khurshudian of the Heritage Party’s Regulatory Commission, board
member Gevorg Kalenchian, and political secretary Vardan Khachatrian. In Mr.
Khachatrian’s words, the party members expect that “the police uncover the
architects of this illegal act and give a legal evaluation of what took
place.”

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central headquarters are located at 7 Vazgen Sargsian Street, Yerevan
375010, Armenia, with telephone contact at (374-10) 580.877, fax at (374-10)
543.897, and email at info@heritage.am