October 20, 2009 - 12:14 AMT
Neo-Conservative activists were arrested for patriotism, movement leader states
The Neo-Conservative activists of Vanadzor regional committee were actually arrested for distributing leaflets expressing their concerns over RA-Turkish Protocols, Head of National Neoconservative Movement (NNM) Edward Abrhamyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. Arresting youth wing activist Levon Yelchinyan and NNM regional committee chair Manvel Kostandyan, law enforces acted in breach of several constitutional clauses, he finds. "Police operations in Vanadzor can be characterized as indecent and unfounded conduct. Attempts to seed hostility between Turks and Armenians is a disgraceful conduct by Armenian law enforcers. On October 19, our organization addressed an open letter to RA Prosecutor General. We hope Mr. Hovsepyan will not leave our letter unanswered."
In the evening of October 17, Vanadzor Police arrested Head of NNM Regional Committee Chair Manvel Kostandyan and Head of Student Union Levon Yelchinyan. At the moment of arrest, young activists possessed leaflets condemning the Protocols signed between Armenian and Turkish Foreign Ministers. Activists were taken to police station, and all their personal items, including passports, office keys and mobiles were confiscated. They spent over 6 hours in police. Law enforcers have thus violated articles 18, 21, 25, 27 and 53 of RA Constitution.