Dear Mr. Hammerberg, Commissioner on Human Right of the Council of Europe

18.01.2011

We have suffered physical and psychological tormet that probably all political prisoners suffer. Psychological suffer was even more difficult for us and it has not stopped so far because our friends, other political prisoners, are still deprived of their liberty.   

Our society is well aware about the existence of the political prisoners in Armenia. People also are aware that this situation is strictly unacceptable from democracy and human rights perspective and this position is supported by the Council of Europe.

Immediately after the implementation of the bloody massacre by the authorities on March 1, 2008 and followed by mass arrests of oppositionists (which you have described as a political vendetta),  the international society , particularly PACE resolutions, statements of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union qualified it as a political persecution and demanded their immediate release. We are well aware and we are witnesses of your, Human Rights Commissioner's sincere and effective efforts directed to this issue.    

Unfortunately, these efforts were not continued logically and today there are still political prisoners in Armenia.  For that reason, the perception was established in the society that neglecting of human rights and democracy gross violations, the most vivid and obvious expression of which is the fact of existence of political prisoners, is either the result of weakness of the relevant international institutions or the result of bargain with the authorities. Hereby, we call to put into force the whole influence and capacity of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe and obtain the immediate release of our friends, political prisoners. That will allow us to get rid of the psychological sufferings. That will allow the member state of the Council of Europe Armenia to get rid of the shame of having political prisoners. Finally, that will allow the Council of Europe to get rid of the disgrace of tolerating this situation.    

Former Political Prisoners.