"WHAT A DISGRACE!"
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[05:09 pm] 25 May, 2007
Human rights defenders, civil society activists and representatives
of political organizations held a debate at the Pressing Club on May
25 on the arrest of Alexander Arzumanyan.
"The arrest of Alexander Arzumanyan, the former Foreign Minister
of Armenia, on alleged charges of money laundering is unprecedented
because no other citizen of Armenia has ever been accused of getting
a transfer," says Vardan Harutiunyan, a human rights activist.
"Alexander Arzumanyan’s arrest is groundless, and there is no
evidence," said Vahe Grigoryan, Arzumanyan’s attorney. Davit
Shahnazaryan shares his opinion, and endorses Alexander Arzumanyan’s
refusal to interrogation.
The participants of the debate agree it is clear persecution,
connected with the Civil Disobedience Movement initiated by Alexander
Arzumanyan. Larissa Alaverdyan, the defender of human rights, stated
that Alexander Arzumanyan was arrested in an effort to threaten the
society, it was a challenge to the society. The participants of the
debate agreed to this and therefore they underlined the importance of
consolidation of the civil society to stop the government and put an
end to arbitrariness. Davit Shahnazaryan suggested coordinating the
public, political and civil support to Alexander Arzumanyan.
The participants of the debate decided to adopt a statement addressing
the relevant government agencies, including RoA President Robert
Kocharuian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan and the National Security
Service, urging to set Alexander Arzumanyan free. All the NGOs
are welcome to sign the statement. The statement will be titled,
"Release Alexandre Arzumanyan immediately and stop legal procedure."
To remind, Alexander Arzumanyan was detained on May 7.
He is accused of money laundering. On May 10 Court of First Instance
chose two months’ imprisonment as a restraint.