Political tension running high in Armenia
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
A leading opposition party in Armenia threatened the government with boycotting parliamentary meetings as several hundred citizens protested against the kidnapping and beating of a human rights activist.
The Prosperous Armenia Party called on the authorities to properly investigate the brutal attack on its member Artak Khachatryan.
Three masked and armed men forcibly pushed Khachatryan into a car near the Tashir shopping center in Yerevan on February 7. He was later found beaten and laying unconscious near his home.
The PAP said that it will boycott the parliament's meetings until the incident is completely investigated and the culprits are punished.
The party, which calls itself an alternative political force in Armenia, will likely be supported in boycott by the Armenian National Congress faction, said, Aram Manukyan, Member of Parliament form the party.
"We all are Artak" chanted the protesters in a belief that Khachatryan was attacked because of his participation in the anti-government Kasetsum movement attended by the small and medium business entrepreneurs.
As protesters marched to the Investigation Committee of Armenia, demanding immediate disclosure of the guilty, politicians said that recent violence against representatives of non-governmental political forces and civil activists aim at threatening them.
The repressive movement against the opposition political figures, human rights activists and people having critical opinion of the authorities has gained a momentum in Armenia in recent days. Many in the country, including Iveta Tonoyan, Secretary of PAP Leader Gagik Tsarukyan, blame the regime for uncertainties, shameful economic condition and disastrous migration trend.
Another influential opposition party Heritage issued an official statement, expressing its deepest concerns over the kidnapping and beating of Khachatryan, an active member of the Kastetsum movement.
The party claimed that the repressive action against the citizens for their political views is the outcome of the acquiescence of the unelected government and law enforcement bodies.
Very recently, the Prosperous Armenia party's foregoer Tsarukyan promised to arrange unprecedented anti-government protest rallies in the capital city Yerevan and all districts of the country.
Mikael Melkumyan from party claimed that the largest ever march in Yerevan will be held in near future.
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