Thursday, October 20 2016 15:15

ArmInfo. Karo Yeghnukyan, an arrested member of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, has disseminated a statement from the penitentiary, about the supposed reasons of persecutions against him. 

The statement received by ArmInfo, particularly, reads. 

"The political persecution against me by the authorities has been  going on for almost five years and has deep roots. It all started  when I decided to provide my three-story building, on Alek Manukyan  Street, to be freely used by Founding Parliament and other civil  society activities that needed the space. In addition I started  becoming active in a number of civil initiatives, which naturally did  not please the authorities.

The real persecutions against my family and myself began after my  active participation for the preservation of Mashtots Park and  Tzatzkatz Shuka. Within a few days, there were two attacks on my two  vehicles. In one instance the four tires of one vehicle were slashed  and in the second instance the hood of my car and the mirrors were  violently broken. For my participation in the Founding Parliament, my  third vehicle was set on fire furthermore, during the terrorizing  attacks perpetrated by the authorities in Berdzor, all three of my  vehicles were badly damaged.

For over a month, a large poster depicting my picture and containing  statements which were discriminatory; and incited violence and  hatred, was hang in the front of Tzatzkatz Shuka. Despite my many  protests, not a single action was taken by the authorities to stop  this criminal act.  During the same period my family members and I  were followed and intimidated to create an atmosphere of fear.

All of the above terrorizing feats were realized and sponsored by the  authorities.  More recently many friends and "people in the know"  were trying to persuade me to sell all of my assets in Armenia and go  back to the US before something happens to my family or my property  is "taken" from me. They kept telling me to "think about my four  daughters"! Naturally some of these people genuinely wished me well  however most were sending me a "message". As the saying goes 'where  there is smoke there is fire". This line of activity is well known  and common in Armenia as many diaspora Armenians who have attempted  various investments in Armenia have been treated similarly.

The authorities for some time have been trying to find an excuse to  get rid of me on the thesis that if the individual does not exist  then the problem is gone. Because I did not engage in businesses and  so-called "dark" financial enterprises, the authorities did not have  the levers to isolate me or limit my activities. Sasna Tsrer incident  finally provided the authorities the excuse to isolate and punish me  by false accusations.

Since I had committed no criminal acts, I was accused on trumped up  charges of dissemination of information, organizing the free assembly  of people and aspiring to provide radio communication.  Despite the  accusations, to date no evidence whatsoever has been provided. I am  charged with assisting in keeping police members hostage however no  one is actually charged in keeping police members hostage. I am  charged with assisting in the illegal occupation of buildings but no  one is charged with the illegal occupation of buildings. Effectively  there are no criminals but I am charged in assisting to these not  existing criminals!

The courts have ordered pre-trial detention of two months and now  have extended it by another two months without any basis. When my  lawyer has asked on what basis is the assumption that I may impede on  the investigation, the judge has not mentioned the basis but has  stated that it is still in investigation. Even the prosecutor did not  bring any evidence except to say that they are under investigation  and that they are "secret" and cannot be presented to the courts. The  courts also rejected precedent setting high bail amount and ignored  letters of recommendations and motions from over thirty individuals  including members of parliament, previous human rights ombudsmen and  prominent members of Armenian society.

Recently, the President of RA, in some circles, while discussing my  case has mentioned that I am a national security threat! If there is  even the slightest evidence to make such an assertion it should be  made public. If not, then my only conclusion is that the President is  on a personal vendetta.  Furthermore, such a statement by the  President preempts the assumption that I am innocent until proven  guilty. In addition he is also avenging my brother who had the  "audacity" to criticise the president on the issue of political  prisoners in Armenia during one of President's appearances at  Columbia University in New York. During the same appearance the  President had also stated that Shant Harutyunyan "has committed a  criminal act"; thus preempting his guilt prior to being proven guilty  in court.

What is most incomprehensible is the position of the US ambassador in  Armenia, who represents the US government. On numerous occasions I  have asked and even pleaded with the ambassador to make a statement  regarding the systematic abuse of the pre-trial detention system in  Armenia and in particular for my case. I have never asked the  ambassador to make a statement regarding my guilt or innocence, but  only regarding the abuse of the pre-trial detention, something that  the US State Department has already done in its annual report.

During my detention, my only direct contact with the US Embassy has  been Adam Colvin, Vice Consul, who last visited me on the fifth day  of my hunger strike. He did not even have the decency to ask how I  was feeling, but insisted and repeated that the Embassy is in no  position to make any statements. His position was not fact based and  incomprehensible since the ambassador himself, in letters to us, has  stated that the Embassy will make a statement if any one of the  following three conditions exists:

1) If there is evidence that I am being politically persecuted;

2) If there is violation of due process as prescribed by Armenian  Laws and International Treaties;

and

3) If I am being discriminated based on my US Citizenship

I and many other individuals and organizations have written numerous  letters proving that all three conditions are in play. To date we  have received no response that disputes our assertions except for the  case of Mr. Mironov, as proof of discrimination, for which we have  been told that the cases are not comparable.

The US ambassador has discussed my case with the President of RA who  apparently has told the ambassador that any statement by the  ambassador will be counterproductive and in fact may hurt my case. In  addition the ambassador in one of his letters has shared with me that  he has discussed the issue of making a statement with his team as  well as members of the Armenian government. The fact that there were  discussions whether to make or not to make a statement further  illustrates that the ambassador was in a position to make a statement  but has refused to do so. If he was not in a position to make a  statement, then why were there discussions particularly with the  members of the Armenian government? Since when does the ambassador of  the only super power in the world, request permission from local  authorities to make a statement about one of its citizens? 

Nevertheless, for unknown reasons, the ambassador with his team has  decided that a statement regarding me will be counterproductive and  in fact may hurt my case, as Serzh Sarkisyan has "advised".

To date, it is not clear to me the nature of the discussions with the  authorities, what was told to the ambassador and on what basis the  ambassador, "trying to protect me" has not made a public statement.  Although in his letter the ambassador mentions that he has met with  the Chief Prosecutor, Chief of Investigative Unit, Minister of  Justice and the Human Rights Ombudsman regarding my case;  unfortunately he fails to inform me about what they have told him. In  effect, everybody has been discussing my case however I am kept in  the dark regarding those discussions.

Since there was no public statement forthcoming on the issue of  illegality of my pre-trial detention, I pleaded with the ambassador  to come forward on a humanitarian basis and write a letter to the  court asking for my release on bail. Since the initial decision to  implement pre-trial detention against me was based on the premise  that Sasna Tsrer still occupied the buildings; the situation has now  changed and releasing me on bail would have been substantiated.  Therefore a letter from the ambassador would have been purely a  humanitarian act with no legal or political intervention.  Unfortunately the ambassador did not even take that step and again  without an explanation.

I am certain that the ambassador realizes that the authorities are on  a road of vengeance and reckoning with me and will keep me locked up  for as long as they can or wish. It can extend to a minimum of three  years even if I am found innocent by the courts (one year pre-trial  detention and two year during trial) or in worst-case scenario up to  20 years if found guilty. I see only two options to stop this great  injustice, (the third option of political prisoners going through the  legal system has over the years been proven to be futile) the first  is that the ambassador (meaning US Government) makes a public  statement regarding the abuse of pre-trial detention and refusal of  bail is unjustified while at the same time pressuring the authorities  to release me and the second is regime change and consequently the  release of all political prisoners.

The fact that the ambassador, knowing well the situation, is doing  nothing is telling me that there is a sinister political collusion. I  am hopeful the Embassy will review its stand and will take the just  position in line with US history of fighting for the principles of  justice, liberty and equality."