A NUMBER OF PARTIES DEMANDS TO GIVE CITIZENSHIP TO ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN, EXCLUDING HIS DEPORTATION FROM COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of political parties
and organizations expressed a demand today to immediately set free
Zhirayr Sefilian and give him the RA citizenship. It is mentioned
in the statement spread on December 11 that at the night of December
9-10, about 15 masked and armed employees of the RA NSS, "seriously
violating Articles 11 and 12 of the RA Code on Criminal Procedure,
arrested before the society’s eyes, in the presence of his wife,
Zhirayr Sefilian, the Artsakh freedom fighting devoted participant,
bearer of the "Martakan Khach" (Martial Cross) order of the first
degree, former commander of the Shoushi special battalion, head of the
"Defence of Liberated Territories" public initiative, coordinator of
the "Armenian Volunteers’ Unity" being created initiative, reserve
lieutenant-colonel. Vardan Malkhasian, a member of the "Hayrenik ev
Pativ" (Fatherland and Honour) party political council, a member of the
"Armenian Volunteers’ Unity" being created initiative was arrested
on the same day, at his own home, before the family members’ eyes,
not taking into consideration the family mother’s poor health state.

During the same period of time, about 40 RA citizens were taken to
the National Security Service in different settlements of the RA,
their flats were searched and fate of many of those taken is unknown
till now. The statement authors most strictly condemn "any display
of nasty way of action reminding the 37th year of the 20th century"
stating that "the faint authorities, already used all the civilized
resources long ago, will not be able to implant the atmosphere of
fear beneficial for them, but the opposite, they will be given the
fair justice of the society." "We demand to immediately set free
Zhirayr Sefilian, Vardan Malkhasian and their companions-in-arms. We
also demand to give the RA citizenship to Zhirayr Sefilian, the son
entirelly devoted his whole conscious life to the Fatherland, excluding
his deportation from Armenia," is said in the statement. The statement
is signed by the "Nor Zhamanakner" (New Times), "Hayrenik ev Pativ"
(Fatherland and Honour), "Hanrapetutiun" (Republic), "Zhoghovrdavarakan
Ughi" (Democratic Path), "Zhoghovrdavarakan Hayrenik" (Democratic
Fatherland), People’s Party of Armenia, Democratic Party of Armenia,
"National Self-Determination Union," "Constitutional Right Union"
parties of Armenia, Liberal-Progressive Party of Armenia "Orinats
Yerkir" (Country of Law) party, Social-Democratic Hunchak party of
Armenia, "National Democrates’ Union," "Nzhdehian Tseghakron" party as
well as the concillor of the Intellectuals’ Forum, "Civil Disobedience"
movement, "In Defence of Nagorno Karabakh" organization committee.