Hayakve, Chamber of Advocates  criticize authorities` actions  in  Gyumri

ArmInfo.  The civil initiative Hayakve has issued a statement condemning the Armenian authorities' actions  in Gyumri, calling them illegal and qualifying  them as state terrorism  that is destroying democracy and leading the  country towards a grim dictatorship. The Chamber of Advocates has  also issued a statement on the situation.

In a statement  on its Facebook page, the Hayakve initiative  expressed its conviction that the purpose of these actions, including  the initiation of a criminal case against Vardan Ghukasyan, the mayor  of Armenia's second-largest city, is to suppress the opposition ahead  of the upcoming parliamentary elections and intimidate the people.  "Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's regime is once again committing  blatant political reprisals against the people's elected leaders of  local governments," Hayakve pointed out.

The civil initiative also mentioned that citizens holding a peaceful  protest were detained on the same day.  "Brute and disproportionate  force was used against them. Dozens of citizens were detained and  then arrested based on unfounded court decisions. The majority of  them had not committed any violent acts, did not obstruct the  activities of law enforcement agencies, and, moreover, did not  participate in pre-organized mass disorder," Hayakve emphasized.

In light of the above, the initiative has expressed its readiness to  support citizens and fight for the protection of their rights and the  restoration of justice. Additionally, Hayakve urged all human rights  organizations, diplomatic missions, and international human rights  organizations to respond to this case of massive human rights  violations in Armenia.

Continuing on the topic, the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia also  issued a statement, addressing the two- month detention of lawyer  Ruben Mkhitaryan, a member of the "In Our Way" movement. They  emphasized that he was arrested and is being prosecuted for lawful  actions committed in the course of his professional activities.

"Ruben Mkhitaryan stood between citizens and police officers with his  hands raised to prevent further escalation of the situation and to  calm things down. It was at this moment that the lawyer was taken  into custody with the use of physical force and placed in a police  car," the statement clarified.

In relation to the lawyer's detention, according to a source, the  Commission for the Protection of Lawyers' Rights discussed the issue  of criminal prosecution and coercive measures against Ruben  Mkhitaryan on October 22. The Commission reviewed this matter in the  context of the lawyer's independence and professional reputation.

"As in the past, so now, the Commission condemns any persecution  against a lawyer, especially criminal prosecution, that may be  related to their legitimate professional activities. The Chamber of  Advocates recalls that a lawyer's independence is a key foundation of  their professional activity, necessary for ensuring the protection of  human rights in a democratic society," the Chamber of Advocates  stated.

It is emphasized that the Commission also noted the potential  negative consequences of such actions for a lawyer's reputation.  "Considering a lawyer's role in society, the application of coercive  measures, including detention, should be a measure of last resort and  be applied in practice in accordance with the above- mentioned  requirements. When applying a preventive measure to a lawyer, the  protection of the rights of their clients must also be considered,"  the statement noted.

In light of the above,  the Commission called on the participants in  the criminal proceedings to justify the need for Ruben Mkhitaryan's  arrest. Furthermore, they must present grounds demonstrating that  criminal proceedings cannot be conducted without the lawyer's  isolation. "The Commission expresses its grave concern regarding the  current and continuing conduct of the ruling regime and reiterates  that this is not in the interests of a democratic society," the  Commission's statement reads, as cited by the Bar Association.