1. Political Prisoners. Persecution of
dissenters. 

    a. Another Opposition Activist Behind Bars

[22.06.2004]

Lavrenti Kirakossyan, 44, a member of National Democratic Union was sentenced to
a year and six months in jail on Tuesday.

Karakert village resident Lavrenti has been taken in custody after participation
in an opposition-staged rally on April 10 and had to serve a ten-day
administrative punishment. He was brought drug charge while kept in detention.


The accused persists in denying any wrongdoing and says trumped-up charge is
brought to him.

The court decision prompted angry reaction from his relatives, friends and
fellow villagers. They decided to stage a protest action outside Prosecutor
General Office in Yerevan.

They have to go to the Armenian capital on foot because can’t afford transport
fares.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1763


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1759


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1761

b. Statement About Lavrenti Kirakosyan

[19.06.2004]

The group of nongovernmental organizations appeared with the statement
about Lavrenti Kirakosyan

To the Judge of First Instance Court of Armavir Mr. Hovsepyan

cc: Yerevan Office of Council of Europe



Recently the judicial system of Armenia became a structure of political
persecution and pressure implementation. Lavrenti Kirakosyan is also persecuted
for his political views and position.

We call you to consider objectively all the facts and make a fair decision. We
hope that court will fulfill its justice mission.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1766

c. Two Political Prisoners Remain Jailed

[18.06.2004]

On Friday, Albert Baghdasaryan, one of the National Democratic Union leaders,
speaking at a news conference, blamed the authorities for keeping his fellow
partisan Lavrenti Kirakosyan and Armenian People Party member Edgar Arakelyan in
jail.


National Democratic Party activists told journalists they intended to keep
struggling until these two political prisoners are released from detention. The
party leader Vazgen Manukyan said Lavrenti being prosecuted on drug charges was
framed.


Manukyan came to a sad realisation that the opposition has failed to reach the
key goal of removing current authorities from office through conducting
confidence referendum.


At the same time, he said the party members remain steadfast in their
determination to oust the republic leadership from power.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1762

d. A Monkey to Each Official?

[17.06.2004]

The protest action held for defense of the political prisoners near the General
Office of Prosecutor has today ended in the unique awards. Eleonora Manandyan,
Chair of “New Armenia” social organization introduced 3 statues of monkeys – the
prizes set for attitude towards the political prisoners.



The statue of the monkey closing its eyes with own hands, “I see nothing”, was
given to Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan.



The monkey with closed ears, ”I hear nothing” was awarded to Pargev Ohanyan,
Judge of the First Instance Court of Kentron-Norq Marash Communes, for the trial
of Edgar Araqelyan.



”I say nothing”, the monkey closing its mouth, was given to Public TV Company of
Armenia. Other representatives of Mass Media as well, “H2”, “Armenia”, “Arm
News”, “Yerevan” TV Companies could win the latter prize. But Public TV Company
was preferred.



”The pickets proved that one can achieve his purposes just by overcoming the
sense of fear. We will keep fighting and will carry it through”, Manandyan says.




All the prizes will be sent to the “winners” after the protest action.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1760

2. Freedom of Assembly

Some Details Of Today’s Event

[16.06.2004]

There were not so many provincial residents at the June 16 rally. The local
authorities resort to the tactic of intimidation. Ahead of the event the
opposition supporters are being called to police stations and warned about heavy
consequences of their participation in an event.


It is remarkable that there were abundant cameras at the rally. It has been
noticed that these cameras didn’t belonged to media outlets and were directed at
the rally participants faces instead of speakers.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1758

3. Refugee issues

The World Refugee Day in Vanadzor

[20.06.2004]

Not breaking with the tradition, this year too, on June 20 the Armenian
Constitutitonal Right-Protective Centre (ACRPC) initiated the organization of
the events devoted to the World Refugee Day in Vanadzor.



Last year, on the same day, a republican contest-measurement under the motto The
World with the Eyes of the Children was organized, which had been initiated by
the CRINGO Network of the Refugees and Internally Displaced People. As a
memeber-organization of the Network the measurments in Vanadzor were carried out
by ACRPC.



This year the activity has been held in collaboration with the UNHCR Office in
Armenia, the Caucasian NGOs Network of CRINGO, Vanadzor Municipality and the
ACRPC.



Mr. Peter Nikolaus - UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Mr. Karen Asatryan –
Coordinator of CRINGO Network in Armenia, representatives of the
memeber-organizations of the Network, Mr. Samvel Darbinyan – Vanadzor Mayor, Mr.
Gevork Manoukian – ACRPC Chairman and a number of guests made welcome speeches.



By the financial support of the UNHCR and Danish Refugee Council, the yard of
the multi-flatted buildings N 11, 12 and 13 in the district Taron-3 of Vanadzor
inhabited by the refugees were reconstructed within a month: a shelter, benches
and sports eqiupment for kids and adults were built and placed there and
saplings were planted on the occasion. On that day sport events were organized,
and the kids of the refugee families were presented with gifts.



On the second half of the day the guests visited the exhibition of the ACRPC
Human Rights School Building Architectural Designs held in Vanadzor Charles
Aznavour Cultural Palace and then attended the concert devoted to the Day. To it
Lori regional musical groups and talanted children took part. Also, refugee
families from various communities of Lori region were invited to attend the
concert.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1764