VICTIMS OF POLITICAL REPRESSIONS IN ARMENIA TO BE COMMEMORATED IN EUROPE, RUSSIA AND USA

Today.Az
142.html
April 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Sarkissyan’s inauguration will be marked not only by a parade in
Yerevan.

Inauguration of the new president of Armenia will be held in Yerevan
on April 9. According to Arminfo news agency, it will be held in
the hall of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after
A.Spendiarov. Sarkissyan will take the oath in front of the Armenian
parliament, to gather for an urgent session. After that a military
parade will take place at the theater square before the Opera and
Ballet building.

Day.Az reports that tenseness is rising in Armenia before the
inauguration ceremony. In line with Armenian sources, the plans of
the authorities faces serious resentment of the community. A number
of public and political organizations of Armenia announced that it
is undesired to hold inauguration on April 9. The thing is that the
fortieth day of mourning of the victims of March 1 protest in Yerevan
falls on this say.

"We reject this cynical humiliating disrespect towards the whole
people", says a statement of public organization "National awareness",
released by mass media.

The authors noted that on April 9 the whole Armenian people will
mark the fortieth day of those who fought for freedom of people. It
was noted that the mourning arrangements will be held in line
with traditions-in black wearings and attributes. In particular,
all who is willing to participate will put flowers to memorial of
Alexander Maskinsyan in Yerevan, where tragic events occurred near
French embassy in Yerevan. Representatives of Armenian Intelligence
Forum also called on the authorities to postpone the ceremony of
presidential inauguration.

Official Yerevan decided to play on outstripping, considering the
spirits among the population. This is proven by the decision of the
Armenian church to hold the fortieth day on Sunday on April 6. At the
same time Echmiadzin referred to tradition when representatives of
Armenian public said that 40 days have not passed from March 1 until
April 6. The statement, voiced by clergymen says that "in line with
tradition, the seventh, fortieth and first year of mourning are held
in Armenian churches on the nearest Sundays of the said dates upon
the completion of Holy Liturgy (Novosti-Armenia). An exception is
the Day of "victims of genocide" in Turkey -April 24, when the Holy
prayer is held in all churches regardless of the day.

It is not surprising that the substantiations presented by the Armenian
church aroused resentment among the Armenian society and diaspora. This
is proven by the fact that preparations to mourning events on April 9
has not been stopped and is gaining steam. In particular,the Armenian
diaspora plans to hold mourning actions in front of the Armenian
embassies in Europe, Russia and the United States. During the events,
their participants plan to light candles in memory of the victims of
political repressions in Armenia.

The diaspora representatives will gather before the building of the
European Union in Brussels. The European society will be presented
different materials (leaflets, photos and DVD disks) about tragic
events of March 1. One of the major tasks of the action organizers
is to introduce the real information about situation in Armenia to
the European political establishment-about usurpation of powers of
Sarkissyan’s regime and continue persecution of political opponents.

A picket in protection of rights of political prisoners in Armenia
will also be held along with the mourning action in Moscow. It should
be noted that Moscow authorities sanctioned the action. As is reported,
the Russian political establishment shows resentment with the situation
in Armenia, where new authorities have caused resentment of the world
society by their actions. Therefore, by initiating action of protest
on the day of Sarkissyan’s inauguration, Moscow tries to prove its
support to the fair demand of Armenian community on liberalization
of political situation in the country.

It should be reminded that a number of protests were held in the
European countries and USA in front of the Armenian embassies and
international organizations for the purpose of drawing attention of
world society to political processes in Armenia. After the elections
in the Los Angeles district, called "Small Armenia", meetings of
protests were held against violence, applied to peaceful protesters
on March 1 (Caucasian knot). The action participants noted that the
actions of protest will continue as the Diaspora’s resentment is too
great. The meeting was attended by Armenians, residing in other cities
of California: Fresno, Sacramento and others. The biggest Armenian
lobby organization of the United States -American Armenian Assembly
has released a statement, presenting condolences to the relatives of
innocent people, killed during the demonstrations in Yerevan held on
March 1.

The actions are also held in Internet. Collection of
signatures under petition "Stop abuse of powers in Armenia"
is going on. In line with the text of the petition, posted at
its participants urge the world
society to interfere with the political crisis in Armenia so that
to prevent the further deterioration of the situation, condemn the
mass violation of human rights by the authorities and law enforcement
bodies of Armenia, pursuing the goal to establish criminal regime in
the country, put pressure on Yerevan so the latter stops persecution
of opposition members and protesters and make the Armenian government
release all political prisoners.