COUNCIL OF ALDERMEN OF INTELLECTUALS’ FORUM DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ACTIVISTS OF ORGANIZATION "SOLIDARITY OF ARMENIAN VOLUNTEERS"

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The council of aldermen of the
Forum of Intellectuals of Armenia on December 21 issued a statement, in
which it condemned the arrest of the active participants of the Artsakh
frredom war – Zhirayr Sefilian, coordinator of the public initiative
"Defence of Liberated Territories", Vardan Malkhasian, member of the
political board of the Homeland and Honor Party, head of the party’s
Aragatsotn body, and serveral other activists. According to the
statement authors, these arrests indicate impunity and permissiveness
in the country, disregard of public opinion and of views taken by
Armenian intellectuals. It is noted that such phenomena increase public
concern over the country’s present state and its future. "The power
pyramid creates an atmosphere of fear and authoritarianism obviously
aimed at the authorities’ reproduction at the upcoming elections and
making concessions in the Artsakh problem – by silencing the people
and freedom fighters," the statement reads. The members of the council
of aldermen also expressed their concern that such political steps may
harm Armenia-Diaspora relations forming with difficulty. Considering
the arrest of the freedom fighters devoted to Homeland before New Year
as immorality, the council of aldermen demands their immediate release.