PACE condemns Armenia post-election violence
A bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) has harshly criticized Armenia's February 19 presidential
election.
John Prescott, head of the PACE Ad hoc Committee Mission that observed the polling, said 28 people had died in post-election violence instead of eight, as previously reported. Eight of them were killed on public squares where the protests took place, while 20 passed away in hospitals afterwards.
Armenian opposition refused to recognize the results of the election, charging vote rigging. The mass protests that followed were quelled on March 1 with the use of force.
Prescott said all means available - including the use of grenades - were used to violently put down the protests.
The PACE bureau decided in conclusion that the developments in Armenia would be put on discussion at the Parliamentary Assembly's plenary session on Thursday.
During the discussions, MPs had suggested applying sanctions against Armenia, including freezing the country's right to vote in the assembly.
John Prescott, head of the PACE Ad hoc Committee Mission that observed the polling, said 28 people had died in post-election violence instead of eight, as previously reported. Eight of them were killed on public squares where the protests took place, while 20 passed away in hospitals afterwards.
Armenian opposition refused to recognize the results of the election, charging vote rigging. The mass protests that followed were quelled on March 1 with the use of force.
Prescott said all means available - including the use of grenades - were used to violently put down the protests.
The PACE bureau decided in conclusion that the developments in Armenia would be put on discussion at the Parliamentary Assembly's plenary session on Thursday.
During the discussions, MPs had suggested applying sanctions against Armenia, including freezing the country's right to vote in the assembly.
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