June 8, 2007

Yerevan - The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a public
hearing to examine the criminal investigation launched into the mysterious death
of Levon Gulian, a 31-year old Armenian citizen. A witness concerning a murder
case, Gulian died on May 12 when he was thrown out a window at police precincts.
The meeting brought together Gulian’s relatives, social and political activists,
human rights groups, state authorities, representatives of international
organizations, MPs, and media representatives.

NCI founder and newly elected MP Raffi K. Hovannisian first expressed his
condolences to - and affirmed his solidarity with - the family of Levon Gulian.
Hovannisian then welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “Armenia cannot
demand justice from the world when it does not respect its own citizens’
God-given right to life,” he said. Hovannisian reserved contempt not merely for
the murderers of Levon Gulian, but for the demeanor of the authorities, who
failed to respond to the incidence in proper measure.

In her intervention, the victim’s widow Jemma Gulian briefly spoke about the
conduct of law enforcement prior to and following her husband’s death. She
denied allegations that her husband either committed suicide or died in an
attempt to escape from the police precinct. “Levon loved his family, children,
and work so much,” she maintained. “So loving in life and concerned about his
country’s progress, he could not, all of a sudden, have decided to take his own
life. If his intention was to evade the law, he would not have appeared at
numerous prior questionings on his own volition.”

In their turn, Hrair Ghukasian and Aram Karakhanian - the legal representatives of
Levon Gulian’s family - expressed reservations about the criminal investigation as
it concerns Gulian’s legal heirs. “The medical examination was inconclusive and
based on just one piece of evidence,” they stated. “Moreover, though the
examination was presented as the result of a joint effort between local
authorities and independent international experts, the conclusions of the latter
were not received.” The attorneys were concerned that, in an attempt to cover up
the crime, authorities would drop the investigation.

The next speaker, Karen Hakobian, chairman of the “Huis” NGO, emphasized that a
fair settlement of this affair was of vital importance for the public. He called
upon his fellow citizens to demand justice in this case - both for the victim and
the perpetrators. Impunity, Hakobian maintained, breeds new crimes. “The only
road remaining under these conditions is the continued pressure of international
bodies, the joint and dedicated effort of NGOs, and close collaboration with the
attorneys and the journalists who are covering this issue,” he concluded.

The remainder of the session was dedicated to exchanges of views and
recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in attendance.
Noteworthy were interventions by Armenia’s first Ombudswoman and Heritage Party
MP Larisa Alaverdian; former defense attorney and also Heritage Party MP Zaruhi
Postanjian; independent journalist and Armenian Center for National and
International Studies (ACNIS) associate expert on human rights Zhanna
Aleksanian; ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian; chairman Mikael
Danielian of the Armenian Helsinki Association; Gohar Armenakian of the
Soldier’s Protection Committee; social activist Arsen Khachatrian; Artak
Kirakosian from the Civil Society Institute; Levon Gulian’s sister Lilit Gulian;
and several others. The roundtable participants also decided to form a work
group dedicated to the combat against all unlawful actions.

In his closing remarks, NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian once again asserted
that the death of an Armenian citizen under mysterious circumstances and, what
is more, at a state institution - a police precinct - “is yet another test for the
development of the Armenian justice system and civil society.”

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded in
December 2001 by Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K.
Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing
the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and
public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a
Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of
various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on
Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual
and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the
Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax (37410)
52-48-46; email info@nci.am; or visit
www.nci.am