On September 5, 2013 evening, around 10:10pm a group of 6-7 unknown assailants attacked and brutally beat in Yerevan Suren Saghatelyan, one of the members of the Board of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC) NGO, official chapter of Transparency International anti-corruption movement in Armenia and Haykak Arshamyan, a member of the chapter. This criminal act took place near the apartment, where Mr. Arshamyan lives, in the yard of one of the central streets of Yerevan. Both our colleagues suffered multiple serious injuries, in particular, Haykak had cuts around his nose and mouth cavity, and Suren - deep bruise on his head and fractures of nose and fingers.

Both members of TIAC, being not affiliated to any party, are civic activists for long years and they always acted without violating any laws or regulations.

Unfortunately, this act of violence was not the first such act committed against civic activists protesting against a number of decisions and steps undertaken by the Armenian government in the recent weeks. This gives grounds for suspicions that rather well coordinated actions are carried out aimed at stopping the growing protest movements against unjust and illegal actions. This incident also can be considered as an indirect warning to our NGO and our partner NGOs to refrain from criticism against the policies implemented by the government in different areas.

Considering this, as well as other similar acts of violence, as acts of terror against civic activists TIAC states that if this crime will not be solved as soon as possible and those guilty will not be punished, then they could be recurred in the future and the full responsibility for its consequences will rest on the current regime.