ARMENIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AWARDED ‘DEFENDER OF FREEDOM’ PRIZE

ArmInfo
2009-01-22 19:06:00

ArmInfo. On January 22, the US Embassy in Armenia gave a reception
dedicated to Martin Luther King Day. At the reception, Head of Helsinki
Association, human rights activist Mikayel Danielyan was awarded the
"Defender of Freedom" prize. To note, the prize was established by
former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Mikayel
Danielyan has become its first laureate from Armenia.

US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Marie
Yovanovitch stressed that Mikayel Danielyan is found in complicated
situations: in hospitals, prisons, courts; he asserts the rights of
prisoners, the injured, and suppressed minorities.

For his part, Mikayel Danielyan thanked the Embassy for the award and
said that Armenia has a long path to pass on the way to establishment
of democracy. "One should always remember that the basic rights and
liberties of citizens are beyond the national, political and state
interests",- he said.

Leaders of a number of political parties of Armenia, foreign
diplomats accredited in Armenia, the Ombudsman of Armenia, as well
as representatives of NGOs attended the award ceremony.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress