Armenian authorities should fully respect the principle of freedom of
Assembly, according to PACE rapporteurs

Strasbourg, 17.02.2009 – John Prescott and Georges Colombier,
co-rapporteurs on Armenia ‘s monitoring for the Parliamenatry Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE), expressed their concern about the
refusal of the authorities to allow the Armenian National Congress
(HAK) to organise a peaceful rally in Central Yerevan on 1 March 2009.
They stressed that the Assembly has on several occasions called upon
the authorities to fully respect the principle of freedom of assembly
in Armenia and not to place undue restrictions, especially with regard
to the requested venues, upon peaceful rallies organised by the
opposition. In their view , the possibility for all political forces
to organise peaceful rallies is an essential component of democracy and
therefore call upon the authorities to allow such peaceful rallies to
take place unimpeded in the requested venues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress