Armenian National Congress
Koryun 19A, IV floor, Yerevan 0009
Tel: (37410) 52.09.74
December 28, 2009
Statement on Attack on Activists During Election Campaign
On December 27, there was a brutal attack on youths who were
distributing informational campaign pamphlets about Nikol Pashinyan,
candidate for the National Assembly.
Altogether unable to counteract Nikol Pashinyan’s successful campaign,
and understanding that such a successful campaign could well lead to
victory, just 15 days prior to the election the authorities has turned
to its usual illegitimate violent methods and criminal behavior to
deal with the challenge. In fact, our opponents – the authorities –
do not constitute a political force working against us, but rather a
criminal gang gifted at constantly setting new records in the levels
of depravity and barbarity which they can reach.
The planned attack was carried out by approximately 20-30 thugs based
at Vardanants Avenue building 5a, the local campaign office of the
rival candidate from the National Unity party, a gheghamyan stooge.
The thugs demanded that the youth campaigning for Nikol Pashinyan stop
distributing the campaign material; armed with metal pipes and cold
arms, the thugssnatched the pamphlets and attacked and beat the
youth.
As a result of this thuggish attack, Nikol Pashinyan’s proxies –
Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sergey Gasparyan, Tevos Matevosyan, Sargis
Gevorgyan, and Sahak Mouradyan- were injured and transported to the
hospital. Vladimir Karapetyan, Representative of the Commission of the
Foreign Relations at the Armenian National Congress, was attacked as
well. Three of the wounded were released after receiving first aid.
The other two have more serious injuries requiring further attention,
and are still in the hospital. The police who had arrived at the
scene late met with the victims only at the hospital. According to
information available to us, the attack was ordered by parliamentarian
Ruben Sadoyan, Republican Party, and the order was carried out by
Vahan Nadaryan, head of the Republican Party campaign offices in
sub-districts 10/19 and 10/20. Overall, the responsibility for
ensuring that the rival candidate, Ara Simonyan, won the election was
placed on Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan.
The ANC condemns this base act by the authorities and their servants
and will put all available political mechanisms in place to counteract
it.Such desperate and cowardly actions by the authorities have never
had an impact on our determination; such actions serve only to erode
the foundations of the rule of the authorities and to strengthen the
spirit of and support for our struggle.And all those guilty will
certainly be brought to justice.