We undersigning media and civil society organizations condemn recent attacks on Armenian political prisoner, editor-in-chief of Hakyakan Zhamanak newspaper Nikol Pashinyan.

Nikol Pashinyan, 35, is a journalist and activist of oppositional Armenian National Congress and has been persecuted for his political views since March 2008. Pashinyan was imprisoned in July 2009 in connection with the dramatic events of March 1, 2008 in Yerevan that followed the February 19, 2008 rigged Presidential elections. The journalist is accused of inciting violence against the authorities and organization of mass disorders in breach of the law. The court trial was racked with innumerable abuses of the law, not least of which was the consistent violation of the principle of equality between the prosecution and the defense.

Despite the solid criticism the Armenian authorities received from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Union, United States Government and many other international organizations and foreign governments with regard to the trial and imprisonment of Pashinyan, the issue remains unsolved and Nikol Pashinyan is presently serving his three year and eleven month sentence in Artik penitentiary.

Recently, he has been subjected to physical and psychological abuses while in Kosh penitentiary for his refusal to cease writing articles for his newspaper from the prison and for his continued criticism of the government. Pashinyan has been attacked 4 times in the last two months. The most recent on the journalist took place on November 17. Two masked individuals assaulted him while he was asleep. Prior to any investigation of the case, Ministry of Justice issued a statement proclaiming that nothings had happened and Nikol has seen it in a dream.Only after the journalist presented them with evidence - his bed sheet with footprints of military boots and traces of blood - an investigation was actually launched. The threat to Pashinyan's health and life remains very high.

We undersigning organizations urge Armenian authorities to ensure the inviolability and safety of the Haykakan Zhamanak daily chief editor's life, to punish the perpetrators and prevent all those activities, which in this or that way are directed against Pashinyan's security. We also demand from Armenian Government immediately release Nikol Pashinyan from prison. The petition is open for signatures.

ALM TV
GALA TV
Haykakan Zhamanak daily
Chorord Inqnishkhanutyun daily
Aravot daily
Zhamanak daily
Hraparak daily
168 Zham daily
Hetq weekly
Lragir.am
A1plus.am
News.am
Epress.am
Hetq.am
1in.am
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee
Committee to Protect Freedom of Speech NGO
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center
Shahkhatun-Political Prisoners' Wives
Armenian Helsinki Association
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor office
Journalists Asparez Club
Center for Rights and Freedom
Menq Plus NGO
Mijnaberd Cultural-Educational NGO
Hope NGO
Youth for Democracy

For more information please contact Isabella Sargsyan, Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee [email protected] +37491 436415