OSCE Office concerned about violence in Armenia

YEREVAN, 14 April 2004 - The OSCE Office in Yerevan is alarmed at recent developments in Armenia and calls on all the parties involved to resolve their differences through a political dialogue to ease tensions in the country.

"The police action in the very early morning of 13 April aimed to forcefully disperse the citizens and journalists gathered in front of the National Assembly is of serious concern to us," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, in a statement he gave to Radio Liberty and Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii.

The OSCE Office is paying particular attention to the fate of those detained and the condition of those who suffered injuries during the police operation, and to the question of the searches of the headquarters of the main opposition parties, conducted by the police during the same night.

The OSCE Office in Yerevan welcomes the release of three members of the Armenian Parliament - Mr. Shavarsh Kocharian, Mr. Arshak Sadoyan and Mr. Alexan Karapetyan - who were also detained during the police operation. At the same time, it expresses concern with regard to the alleged use of force during their detention and reports on difficulties they experienced in receiving legal assistance, while in detention.

The OSCE Office will continue to monitor the implementation by Armenia of human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in OSCE principles and commitments accepted by Armenia as a participant in the Organization, said Ambassador Pryakhin.