““Compass” research, training and consultancy center” NGO's council’s statement about spurious charge against Karen Petrosyan

On 17th of June, 2015 Public Services Regulatory Commission of RA made a decision about

the increase of electricity cost in RA. The decision caused protests and riots among the public,

because it was neither substantiated nor of public interest.

““Compass” training research and consultancy center” NGO's council board and staff

members, being attentive and taking part in the civic, social and economic processes, actively

participated in the spontaneous, peaceful demonstrations, protests and awareness raising actions,

which were resulted by the increased price of electricity.

After the peaceful sitting-strike, on 22nd of June, on 23rd of June, in the morning 13

protesters were illegally arrested. Later, 12 arrested became as witnesses in a criminal case, and

only Karen Petrosyan, who is a board member of ““Compass” training research and consultancy

center”, PhD, docent in economics, was recognized as a suspect of committing a hooligan act. On

the very same day all detained were released, after which the protest against the increase of

electricity cost continued both in the whole country, and in Gyumri. However, on June 30 it was

revealed that ““Compass” research, training and consultancy center” NGO's board member Karen

Petrosyan was prosecuted according to the RA Criminal Code article 258, part 2.

“Compass” NGO board condemns the fabricated criminal case and police illegal behavior

against Karen Petrosyan, considering it to be a consequence of a political decision, as from the

point of the law it is impossible to find a hooligan motives (which is a mandatory attribute of the

offense) in the peaceful demonstrations and processions.

Without going deep into action’s factual and legal analysis, only should be mentioned that

if the prosecution is not political, then which are the legal answers to the following questions:

1) Which is the difference between Karen Petrosyan's and other protesters’ actions in the

legal perspective?

2) For the hooligan offense it is mandatory for a person to have direct intention to

contempt the public and conduct violation of public order. Moreover, it is mandatory that the

actions are only of hooligan motives. In this context the question is, if the social justice demands

immediate and spontaneous form of demonstrations and marches, which are peaceful and do not

express disrespect towards the society, can they be motivated as hooliganism?

There is no need of other arguments to prove that in this case the charge of hooliganism is

a direct pressure and has nothing in common with Karen Petrosyan's actions and legal regulations.

Having such an obvious reality, we demand from the competent authorities to immediately

end the obviously illegal criminal prosecution towards Karen Petrosyan, immediately implement a

fair and impartial criminal investigation, assess unlawful operations of the police against peaceful

protesters within the scope of law, for both violations of rights activists at the police, and after

keeping detained. We urge to punish the police officers who realized illegal actions, and who

issued corresponding command.

““Compass” training research and consultancy center” NGO will be consistent of

implementation process of the proposed fair requirements and addresses to the President of the

RA, the President of the RA National Assembly, Deputies of the RA National Assembly, the

Human Rights Defender, to International organizations and diplomatic structures and to all

institutions, involved in protecting the interests and human rights in Armenia, to take their

position, to condemn the harassment against civil activity by contributing to the quick solution to

the issue.

- Human Rights