11 PARTIES DEMAND STOPPING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO A GROUP OF
PARTICIPANTS OF OCTOBER 23 RALLY

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 2, NOYAN TAPAN. In order to ensure their own
reproduction, the Armenian authorities have been long inspiring the
public the thought that allegedly the results of the forthcoming
presidential elections are predetermined. This was mentioned in the
November 2 statement of the People’s Party of Armenia, Armenian
National Movement, Liberal-Progressive Party of Armenia, Hanrapetutiun,
and another seven parties. "Citizens pursuing their political and civil
rights pose the greatest danger for formation of this atmosphere, each
initiative of which frightens the authorities," the statement read.

The October 26 rally’s organizers, as the authors of the statement
remind, had organized a non-mass notifying procession on October 23,
thus, using the possibility given them by the law. During the
procession the policemen and special detachments beat women, under-aged
children, editors of newspapers and heads of a number of parties having
participated in the procession. 11 citizens were taken to the Police
Kentron department by force. According to the statement, without any
document formulation and motivation they were illegally deprived of
freedom for eight hours.

The statement also mentioned that "for the purpose of slurring over law
enforcement bodies’ cruelty and those guilty" the Police started a
criminal prosecution to Nikol Pashinian and Shogher Matevosian, editors
of the Haykakan Zhamanak and Chorrord Ishkhanutiun newspapers, Petros
Makeyan, the Chairman of the Democratic Homeland Party, and his sons.
The forces having signed the statement declare that the actions of the
police to the participants of the peaceful and legal rally are illegal,
rudely violate human rights and civil freedoms. At the same time, they
demand "stopping ungrounded criminal prosecution" to the above
mentioned persons, as well as calling for responsibiliy the main
authors of the act of violence, high-ranking policemen.