ANC coordinator advises authorities to think of human rights

PanARMENIAN.Net - Coordinator of the Armenian National Congress opposition bloc Levon Zurabyan advised the authorities “to think of human rights instead of speaking of ethical norms.”

“The authorities constantly violate democratic rules and commits other crimes,” he told journalists on August 26 when commenting on coalition working group head Davit Harutyunyan’s statement about unethical conduct of the ANC, which refused to continue talks with the ruling coalition.

“We were waiting for the release of Tigran Arakelyan will 9.55am and then sent Samvel Abrahamyan to inform that we will not take part in the meeting,” Zurabyan said.

Representatives of the ruling coalition have held meeting since July 18, the two main issues on the agenda being conduction of extraordinary election (on ANC demand) and development of canons of political competition (as suggested by the authorities).

Problems emerged when police detained 7 young ANC activists. According to the ANC, on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a police station.

Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were released.