Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb. 24, 2008
Armenian Deputy Prosecutor General supporting opposition arrested, a
group of Armenian diplomats recognize Ter-Petrosian as legitimate
president
[ 24 Feb 2008 12:40 ]
Yerevan-APA. The opposition continues the rally against the results
of the presidential elections held in Armenia on February 19. APA
reports quoting Armenian mass media that the rallies led by
ex-president of the country, presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian are supported by some government representatives.
A group of diplomats led by Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Armen
Bayburdyan declared their support for the opposition. The written
statement of the diplomats was read in the protest action in Freedom
Square of Yerevan. The statement was signed by Armen Bayburdyan,
Armenian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Italy, Spain
and Portugal Ruben Shugaryan, ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Levon Khachatryan and counselor of Armenian embassy in Ukraine and
Moldova Razmik Khumaryan. The statement calls on the law-enforcement
bodies to refuse using force.
`Only legitimate president elected by the people can solve the
problems of the country’s foreign policy,’ the statement says.
The diplomats were dismissed by Armenian president Robert Kocharian
after the statement they signed was read out to the protesters in
Freedom Square. He also signed an executive order on depriving them
of diplomatic titles.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Deputy Prosecutor General of Armenia
Gagik Jhangirian, who declared his support for the opposition and
dismissed for this, has been arrested.
ArmInfor reports that Gagik Jhangirian’s car was detained in Argavand
village near Yerevan. Along with Jhangirian, his driver and brother
were also arrested.
Levon Ter-Petrosian’s election office stated that the arrest was of
political character.
Levon Ter-Petrosian addressing his supporters declared that the
protest actions received international support. According to him,
former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Dimitrov, ex-president of Belarus
Stanislav Shushkevich, Russia’s Union of Right Forces, outstanding
democrats of Lithuania and Estonia declared their support for the
Armenian opposition.
`No one believes Robert Kocharian’s statements that 200 people rally
in the Freedom Square. We do not need stupid and criminal regime.
Kocharian-Sarkisian regime separated Armenian intellectuals. They
have always relied on criminals and saboteurs like Stalinism,
dictatorship and Satanism. Tell your relatives working in the
government agencies to stop serving anti-people regime,’ he said.
Ter-Petrosian called on his supporters not to leave Freedom Square
unless they achieve their goal.
`I will regard any encroachment on the Freedom Square as encroachment
against Armenian people, as well as against me, the first president
of Armenia and presidential candidate,’ he said.