ANC DEMANDS INITIATING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS FOR SUBJECTING IMPRISONED OPPOSITIONISTS TO BEATING
Noyan Tapan
Jan 8, 2008
YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The extraction of applications for
pardon from political prisoners is nothing else than demanding a ransom
for freedom in exchange for renunciation of their political views and
admission of the crimes they did not commit. This mode of action may
in no way help overcome the deepening political crisis, it will deepen
the estrangement between the society and the authorities," is said
in the January 7 statement of the Armenian National Congress (ANC).
Reminding that political prisoners Grigor Voskerchian, Gevorg Manukian
and Armen Khurshudian were subjected to beating in their prison cells
on December 23 – the day of a regular court sitting on "the case of
the seven", the ANC said that the aim of this action is to break the
spirit of political prisoners and force them to hand in applications
for pardon.
Condemning this "this next in turn cowardly and mean action" of the
authorities, the ANC demands that criminal proceedings be initiated
in connection with each case and all those guilty be punished.