YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The participants of the February 3 roundtable call on all international human rights structures, NGOs acting abroad and in Armenia and individuals to demand that RA government stop pressures upon human rights activists in the country. The statement, in particular, mentions the pressure upon first RA Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdian and lawyer Vahe Grigorian, as well as violations of citizens' rights of ownership as a result of construction in Yerevan center "for state needs." To recap, Chairman of the "Right Juridical Group" company, lawyer Vahe Grigorian is charged with committing fraud in especially large amounts. However, his defenders consider the charge groundless and far-fetched and V.Grigorian a political prisoner. According to them, the case was instituted in connection with his civil and professional activity, in particular, for protection of Yerevan Buzand street residents' rights. We'll also mention that the term of V.Grigorian's arrest has been prolonged for another 2 months lately. As lawyer Artur Grigorian stated at the discussion, the defence party's application on V.Grigorian's illegal arrest has been sent to the European Court where it was registered. As Larisa Alaverdian evaluated, the reason of pressures exerted upon the authorities is the backwardness of officials not giving up administrative-authoritative methods, who, in particular, perceive Ombudsperson's activity as "a betrayal or carrying dirty clothes out of the country." According to her, the society is more ready for development of democracy than the upper links of power. Former RA Ombudsperson also said that obstacles were caused in the issue of preparation of Ombudsperson's 2005 annual report. L.Alaverdian reported that in difference to the previous year's report, this time the violations will be classified not only according to types of law, but also according to state bodies that have committed violations. As Hranush Kharatian, Head of RA Government Staff Department on Issues of National Minorities and Religion, characterized, V.Grigorian is a political prisoner and "the victim of the judicial-legal system established by the ruling administration." "His arrest warns all RA citizens: keep silence or you will appear in the same position," the head of the department said.

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