CoE urged to pressure Armenian authorities to release political prisoners
A large group of protesters, including politicians, gathered outside the Armenian Foreign Ministry in support of political prisoners on Monday morning, waiting for the arrival of Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić.
They held posters featuring photos of political prisoners Mamikon Aslanyan, Armen Ashotyan, Vazgen Saghatelyan, Narek Malyan and Narek Samsonyan, as well as former and current Artsakh leaders held by Azerbaijan. The posters also read "Where is democracy?" and "Freedom to political prisoners!”.
Former MP Naira Zohrabyan denounced the U.S. ambassador’s statement that Armenia “remains a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus”.
She accused the Council of Europe of turning a blind eye to the “rampant political persecution and dictatorship” in Armenia.
“Previously, the PACE and the CoE Human Rights Committee issued multiple statements in support of political prisoners in Armenia. I was among the PACE deputies who voted for the criteria for what defines a political prisoner in 2012. I assert that detained figures Armen Ashotyan, Narek Malyan, Narek Samsonyan, Vazgen Saghatelyan and Mamikon Aslanyan are political prisoners, who meet all five criteria set by the CoE resolution," she insisted.
Zohrabyan urged the Council of Europe to hold debates on political prisoners in Armenia and pressure Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's regime to immediately release them.
Marija Pejčinović Burić arrived in Armenia on an official visit on Monday. Along with other high-level engagements, she was expected to meet with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.