TER-PETROSSIAN WILL NOT ATTEND VANADZOR RALLY
A1+
16 July, 2008
Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrossian will not participate in
a July 18 rally organised by the Helsinki Citizens Assembly-Vanadzor
Office (HCAV).
"The Vanadzor rally is not organised by the Popular Movement but if
we get an invitation, we shall probably attend it," said member of
the Popular Movement Levon Zurabian.
Zurabian is confident that the opposition’s next rally due in Yerevan
on August 1 will be large-scale. At present, they are concerned lest
the human right to free transportation is violated.
It is due to mention that all citizens who are banned entry to the
capital and participation in opposition rallies can restore their
constitutional right in court.
The authorities carry out a delicate policy. They threaten the
most vulnerable people who lack legal knowledge. They believe those
people will not struggle for their violated rights. Nevertheless,
Zurabian says there are people who are ready to struggle against
the lawbreakers.
Yesterday the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Thomas Hammarberg expressed his concern that the head of the Special
Investigation Service Andranik Mirzoyan had assigned the prosecutor
of Vayots Dzor to investigate the heads of Levon Ter-Petrossian’s
pre-election offices and his adherent. A1+ asked Levon Zurabian to
comment on Hammarberg’s statement.
"The document really gives rise to many concerns. It is typical of
a totalitarian country. Neither Shedrin nor Kafka could have thought
of such a document. The document unmasks the totalitarian regime and
the lowest level of moral and legal consciousness in our country."
As of Hammarberg’s observation that his meetings are not fully covered
by the Armenian media, Zurabian noted that the authorities got used
to distorting facts. "Obviously, it is the first time someone has
given a serious assessment to this falsehood. In reality, we take
the authorities false statements naturally as we deal with liars
and adulterators."
Yesterday Mr. Hammarberg said that corresponding experts will be
invited to the NA ad hoc Committee investigating the March 1 events
only in case they make sure of the Committee’s independence and
impartiality.
In this regard Zurabian said: "The Committee could be reliable if
it was formed on the principles proposed by the Popular Movement-if
the authorities and the opposition were given equal footing in the
Committee. Generally, respectable organizations provide experts only
in case they make certain of a committee’s independence. I am more
than convinced that in case the committee was formed on our advice
international experts would have arrived in Armenia."