ARMENIA NGOS CALL ON PACE NOT TO RECOGNIZE ELECTION RESULTS

Interfax News Agency
April 15 2008
Russia

A number of Armenian non-governmental organizations have sent an appeal
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) calling
on the organization not to recognize the results of the February 19
presidential election in the country.

"We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations, call on PACE
members to pass a resolution that would contribute to the resolution of
the most profound political crisis in the history of modern Armenia,"
the appeal says.

The authors of the document call on PACE to support their demands
to hold a free presidential election, an international investigation
into the events of March 1, the immediate release political prisoners,
and the restoration of the freedom of speech, press and assembly in
the country.

NGO activists are certain that only the fulfillment of these demands
will restore political stability in Armenia and "the legitimacy of
the presidency."

The agenda of the PACE spring session provides for the discussion of
the situation in Armenia following the presidential election.

On the morning of March 1 2008, police dispersed a rally in Yerevan,
but former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosian’s supporters gathered
at another place near the city hall. By the evening of March 1, the
protests grew into a mass revolt, in which eight people were killed
and more than 200 injured, according to official reports. The same
day, President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day state of emergency
in the city.

The Armenian special investigative service opened a criminal case
into mass unrest. People arrested under this case have been indicted
for fomenting mass disorder, illegally storing or carrying weapons,
attempting to usurp power, and other crimes.

Seventy-eight participants in the riots are still in custody, 16 more
have signed a written pledge not to leave.