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EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin has replied to the letters of Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP from the opposition With Honor (Pativ Unem) bloc, regarding the current situation in Armenia.

"Violence against citizens raising their voice of protest through peaceful actions continues to be exerted by law enforcement and police forces in Armenia today," she said in a statement on Tuesday, citing the incidents in which a police officer spat on a protester and dragged MPs.

"Unfortunately, there are also evident political persecutions, searches of the oppositionists’ apartments, unjustified detentions, while the chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly urges to involve the protestors in three-month training turn-outs," the MP said.

"We are now in a situation where Armenian citizens are relieved of their positions based on the participation in actions and sharing of videos on social media.

"Justifying the mentioned cases with facts I addressed my international colleagues, Ambassadors to Armenia and requested for a relevant condemning reaction.

"EU Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin replied to my letters and noted that she raised the issues with the Minister of Justice, who informed her that some cases are already under investigation. Ambassador Wiktorin highlights: Law enforcement and police forces should refrain from excessive use of force. It is important that people are able to free voice their opinion and media to free perform their professional duties. It is also crucial that all parties deplore any form of violence coming from either sides," Tovmasyan said.

Regarding the individual cases, the EU ambassador did not judge the incidents, saying it is the task of the law enforcement agencies and the courts. The responsibility of citizens and public servants is to abide by the laws and the Constitution of Armenia, which protect the rights of the people and also explain their obligations, she added.

In her reply, Andrea Wiktorin stated that she was informed that during the rally in Gyumri on 8 May, despite the fact that opposition leaders urged the participants of the rallies to remain peaceful, reports of violence in Gyumri by young opposition demonstrators against four men aged between 74 and 84 years old have been circulated.

The ambassador calls on the demonstrators to refrain from violent language and provocations.

“The EU Delegation is in regular contact with the office of the Human Rights Defender and I can assure you that we will continue to carefully observe all developments," the diplomat said.