Lazarev Club calls for an end to political repression in Armenia

ArmInfo.  The international Russian-Armenian Lazarev Club has  issued a statement expressing its strong protest against the mass political repressions  perpetrated by the current Armenian government against any dissent.

"With dismay, we observe how searches and arrests of clergy members,  undesirable regional leaders, opposition politicians, businessmen,  and lawyers have been taking place in Armenia almost daily for a long  time. Judicial decisions are rubber-stamped, and prisons are being  filled with new inmates," the Club's statement reads.

A clear example of this is the recent arrest of Gyumri Mayor Vardan  Ghukasyan, known for his independent stance on Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan's policies. Those arrested over the past six months include  Samvel Karapetyan, head of the Tashir Group of Companies, businessman  and philanthropist, and member of the Lazarev Club Council; Bagrat  Galstanyan, Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church; Archbishop  Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian  Apostolic Church; Bishop Mkrtich Proshyan, Primate of the Aragatsotn  Diocese; lawyer Alexander Kochubayev; and others.

"All of them stood up for Armenia's traditional values, defended the  Armenian Apostolic Church, and upheld the right of Armenians to  determine their own destiny. Is this their fault? With their  anti-democratic and anti-people actions, the Armenian authorities are  attempting to neutralize those they dislike and transform the country  into an easily manipulated mass of people who have no recollection of  their history or the fundamental Christian principles of Armenians,  who are ready to renounce state symbols and turn Armenia into a  'corridor' for Turkey, NATO, and the United States," the statement  continues. 

It is also emphasized that the Armenian authorities' anger toward the  opposition is increasing with each passing day. "Clearly, a purge of  the political landscape is underway to strengthen the regime  established in the Republic in order to maintain power. Moreover,  repression against dissenters has taken on an extraterritorial  nature: suffice it to recall the growing practice of banning our  compatriots and friends of Armenia from abroad, particularly from the  Russian Federation (Margarita Simonyan, Konstantin Zatulin, Viktor  Krivopuskov, Andranik Migranyan, and others), from entering Armenia.

The International Lazarev Club demands an end to political reprisals  in Armenia and the observance of international norms in legal and  judicial practice. We call on all international institutions to pay  attention to the  human rights violations in the Republic of Armenia  and to exert appropriate pressure on the country's authorities," the  Lazarev Club stated.