ANC demands initiating criminal proceedings for subjecting
imprisoned oppositionists to beating
08-01-2009 16:58:00 | Armenia | Politics
YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The extraction of
applications for pardon from political prisoners is nothing else
than demanding a ransom for freedom in exchange for renunciation
of their political views and admission of the crimes they did
not commit. This mode of action may in no way help overcome the
deepening political crisis, it will deepen the estrangement
between the society and the authorities," is said in the January
7 statement of the Armenian National Congress (ANC).
Reminding that political prisoners Grigor Voskerchian,
Gevorg Manukian and Armen Khurshudian were subjected to beating
in their prison cells on December 23 - the day of a regular
court sitting on "the case of the seven", the ANC said that the
aim of this action is to break the spirit of political prisoners
and force them to hand in applications for pardon.
Condemning this "this next in turn cowardly and mean
action" of the authorities, the ANC demands that criminal
proceedings be initiated in connection with each case and all
those guilty be punished.