RUSSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS CONCERNED

A1+
[03:19 pm] 23 May, 2008

Russian advocates voiced concern over the recent assault on a
leading human rights defender, the chairman of the Armenian Helsinki
Association Mikael Danielian.

"We are confident that the leadership of any country must secure
conditions for normal and safe activities of human rights advocates,
political activists and organisations. Authorities must guarantee
their security from any sudden assault and threat," holds the statement
signed by 32 Russian advocates. /See the Russian version/

Russian advocates urge the Armenian leadership to take drastic measures
and launch an independent investigation to uncover the wrongdoer.

"As part of their investigation into yesterday’s assault of a leading
human rights defender, the Armenian authorities should investigate
the extent to which the victim’s human rights work was a motive for
the attack," Human Rights Watch said today.

Reminder: as a result of a May 21 incident on Terian-Moskovioan streets
the leader of the Armenian Progressive Party Tigran Urikhanian shot
at the chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association Mikael Danielian
from a pneumatic gun.