HAK activists welcome CoE forum’s participants with prison clothing, handcuffs and closed mouths

Young activists of opposition alliance Armenian National Congress held a 6-hour picket in front of the Government Building’s guest house today.

The move was aimed at drawing the attention of the participants of a forum held by the Council of Europe and titled “For the Future of Democracy.”

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland and Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s (PACE) co-rapporteur on Armenia John Prescott also attended the forum.

The protesters had brought with them a metal cell – a symbol of limitation on freedom.

Some of the activists were wearing prison clothing, handcuffed and their mouths closed by plastic stickers.

The protesters were chanting “Serzhik Go Away!” “Serzhik the Killer,” (a colloquial version of the name of Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan often used by former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan) and “Freedom.”

The police had since morning cordoned the protesters and installed barricades to limit their movement.

HAK coordinator Levon Zurabyan condemned the actions by the police, saying it has assumed the role of not the one who keeps public order but the role of one who serves to what he called the “despotic authorities.”

“They attempt to dictate us with what slogans to hold the picket. They tell us not to chant ‘Serzhik Go Away!’ ‘Serzhik the Killer’,” told Tert.am.

He also said that former Armenian president and HAK leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan has met John Prescott and told him during the discussion that Armenia’s authorities do not implement the PACE Resolution 1677.

“We have presented [to him] that up to day that resolution has not been implemented. The Council of Europe has already expressed consent with our assessment. We think that the CoE will require implementing it, and if the authorities do not implement it, they will face serious problems,” explained Mr Zurabyan.

Further he said that Levon Ter-Petrosyan has raised also the issue of 13 political prisoners in Armenia.