Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan concerned over cases of violence and intimidation against civic activists in Armenia

YEREVAN, 11 September 2013 – The Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan Ambassador Andrey Sorokin issued the following statement today on recent cases of violence and intimidation against civic activists in Armenia.

“I am concerned about the reported violation of the right to peaceful assembly, harassment, and undue pressure on the demonstrators during street protests in Yerevan.  Cases of direct intimidation and physical attacks against civic activists such as those perpetrated on 5 September against the Project Co-ordinator of Yerevan Press Club, Haykak Arshamyan, and the Board Member of Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre, Suren Saghatelyan, are highly regrettable.

“In addition to the physical harm caused to the individuals involved, these instances can have a detrimental effect for the overall civic engagement and the general public atmosphere in the country.

“It is extremely important for these cases to be properly investigated, and I urge law-enforcement bodies to undertake prompt action. Timely justice and identification of the perpetrators will help maintain public confidence in Armenia’s institutions and will encourage civil society to remain engaged and constructive.”