PACE head urges Yerevan to free prisoners
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) has called on Armenian authorities to take steps to
deliver on their promises, urging Yerevan to free those detained
during the latest wave of unrest.
Lluis Maria de Puig said the release of people detained following protests on March 1-2 was important to begin "the badly needed process of reconciliation" in Armenian society.
Ten people were killed, 265 injured and over 100 arrested during protests that followed the country`s February 19 presidential election. Also, the mass arrests of opposition activists began afterwards.
"It should be clear that the detention of people in relation to those events, other than those who committed grave violent crimes, is unacceptable to the Assembly. I therefore urge the authorities to use every means available to them to release these people as soon as possible. Only in this way can the process of reconciliation and dialogue be assured," de Puig said in a statement during his recent visit to Armenia and released by the Council of Europe press-service.
The PACE president also expressed his concern about the continuing pre-trial detention of a number of opposition leaders, contrary to the request of the Assembly. "This is an issue that should be urgently resolved in the coming weeks," he said.
During his July 23-24 visit to Armenia, de Puig discussed implementation of PACE resolutions on the March developments with top Armenian officials. He met with the president, parliament speaker, the prime minister and foreign minister. In addition, de Puig met with the Human Rights Defender, the Catholicos of All Armenians and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.
De Puig fully supported the proposals of Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammerberg to constitute a separate commission to establish the facts with regard to the post-election disturbances. The PACE president urged the authorities "to send a clear signal" to the Assembly before the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee in September. Otherwise, he warned, there is a serious risk of repercussions during the autumn session of the Assembly.
Lluis Maria de Puig said the release of people detained following protests on March 1-2 was important to begin "the badly needed process of reconciliation" in Armenian society.
Ten people were killed, 265 injured and over 100 arrested during protests that followed the country`s February 19 presidential election. Also, the mass arrests of opposition activists began afterwards.
"It should be clear that the detention of people in relation to those events, other than those who committed grave violent crimes, is unacceptable to the Assembly. I therefore urge the authorities to use every means available to them to release these people as soon as possible. Only in this way can the process of reconciliation and dialogue be assured," de Puig said in a statement during his recent visit to Armenia and released by the Council of Europe press-service.
The PACE president also expressed his concern about the continuing pre-trial detention of a number of opposition leaders, contrary to the request of the Assembly. "This is an issue that should be urgently resolved in the coming weeks," he said.
During his July 23-24 visit to Armenia, de Puig discussed implementation of PACE resolutions on the March developments with top Armenian officials. He met with the president, parliament speaker, the prime minister and foreign minister. In addition, de Puig met with the Human Rights Defender, the Catholicos of All Armenians and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.
De Puig fully supported the proposals of Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammerberg to constitute a separate commission to establish the facts with regard to the post-election disturbances. The PACE president urged the authorities "to send a clear signal" to the Assembly before the next meeting of the Monitoring Committee in September. Otherwise, he warned, there is a serious risk of repercussions during the autumn session of the Assembly.
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