A number of NGOs, including Transparency International Anticorruption Center issued a statement that particularly reads: ”On April 7, 2015 since 6:30 am the apartments and offices of members and coordinators of Founding Parliament civil movement in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor underwent searches by National Security Service and Investigative Committee of Armenia. Then the members and coordinators were arrested by seizing their means of communication, computers and documents.

During the searches and arrests the Founding Parliament members’ elementary rights, particularly the right to an attorney, were not ensured. Nearly in all the cases the searches and apprehensions were accompanied with obvious and undue use of force. Particularly, the search of the apartments of Founding Parliament members were conducted by 15-20 police officers. The representative of Human Rights Defender and the attorney of coordinator were not enabled to be introduced with the grounds for search."

On April 7, 2015 as of 1:00pm, Zhirayr Sefilyan, his brother Toros Sefilyan, Pavel Manukyan, Varuzhan Avetisyan, Garegin Chugaszyan, Aram Hakobyan and Hovhannes Ghazaryan were arrested or forcefully deprived of liberty.

Later RA Investigative Committee disseminated a press release, according to which organization of riots at places of public events on April 24, 2015 was allegedly prevented due to joint measures taken by RA National Security Service and RA Investigative Committee. This statement does not inspire trust since public figures were allegedly charged with crime, by obviously violating the presumption of innocence. We assess the measures taken by RA National Security Service and RA Investigative Committee against the citizens of Armenia as purposeful and planned illegalities, attempting to suppress and limit the constitutional right to freedom of expression, associations and peaceful assemblies.

We consider the actions taken by the National Security Service and Investigative Committee as acts of terrorism against freedom of expression. These mass arrests and searches are anti-constitutional and are actually political persecutions. It is the Armenia’s authorities who must bear the full responsibility for the unlawful actions.

Artur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
Avetik Ishkhanyan, Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Levon Barseghyan, Journalists’ Club “Asparez”
Seyran Martirosyan, Khoran Ard Intellectual Center
Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Transparency International Anticorruption Center