FREE ARTHUR SAKUNTS!
(Coordinator of the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor office", editor of the independent newspaper "Civil Initiative"; Civil society activist in Armenia and the South
Caucasus. Family father of three kids - two of them younger then 1,5 years; beloved friend and respected colleague)
Imprisoned for fighting for democracy in Armenia.
On the 15th of March, Dr. Arthur Sakunts, coordinator of the "Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor office (HCAV)" was arrested after a short, not public trial for organizing a meeting in front of his office in Vanadzor. The aim of the meeting was to inform the population about the findings his organisation had made during recent presidential elections in Armenia. In the night before,the premises of HCAV were set on fire, after other methods of oppression against the organisation and Arthur in person did not work out.
Arthur is a well-known human rights advocate, publisher of the independent newspaper "Civil Initiative" (see
www.hcav.am) and an outspoken peace activist, and this is not the first attempt to disturb his and his organisation's activities.
We - a coalition of other "Helsinki Citizen's Assembly" offices in the South Caucasus, the organisation's chapters abroad and local such as international partners - demand the immediate release of Arthur Sakunts (who is suffering from heart problems and has gone on hunger strike in his imprisonment of 10 days) and ask the international community for support in this matter!
Please find a letter of protest as example and further details below. Publishing of this information on the internet and in mass media is highly appreciated, and please distribute it to other friends and colleagues!
Letters should be sent to:
- Responsible judge, Vahan Rudik Hovhannisyan:
[email protected] , (00374-51)52734 <phone>
- City mayor, Samvel Darbinyan:
[email protected], (00374-51) 22250 <fax>; (00374-51)22648 <phone>
- Governor of the Lori region, Henrik Kochinyan:
[email protected], (..) 20413 <fax>, (..) 26192 <phone>
- Delegation of the Republic of Armenia at the OSCE: HE Jivan Tabibijan,
[email protected]
- National delegation of the Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe: Mr. Hovhannes Hovhannisyan (chairperson) -
[email protected]
- Official representations of the Republic of Armenia in your country. (slightly adapted letter)
on
http://www.armenian.com/embassy.html you can find all addresses of Armenian embassies
Copies of your emails please send to:
[email protected] or
[email protected]
(For further inquiries and letters of solidarity for his family and colleagues, please use these addresses as well)
All adresses:
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected],
[email protected]
EXAMPLE LETTERS
Joint letter to
Mr. Vahan Rudik Hovhannisyan, judge of Vanadzor court
Mr. Samvel Darbinyan, mayor of the city of Vanadzor
Mr. Henrik Kochinyan, governor of the Lori region
17th of March 2003
Ref.: Unjust imprisonment of Dr. Arthur Sakunts
Dear Sirs,
With great concern I have been informed about the imprisonment of Mr. Arthur Sakunts, coordinator of the “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly” in Vanadzor, and want to express my deep worries about this matter.
Mr. Sakunts is a well-known human rights- and peace activist in your country and the South-Caucasus region, being appreciated for his support to fellow citizens and the promotion of democracy in Vanadzor and Armenia. You will most certainly recall his support of citizens that lost their homes during the earthquake in ’88 (“Urban” programme), such as his objective information programme in the forefront of the local elections, for instance.
His organisation has also brought Vanadzor into a positive spotlight through numerous (int.) conferences and seminars and together with their newspaper “Civil Initiative” and daily activities, has been greatly contributing to the development of civil society in your city and region.
The cause and process of his imprisonment appear unclear since the meeting on the presidential elections has not violated Armenian law as well as international standards that the official Armenia has agreed to comply with as a member of the CoE and OSCE. Furthermore, I am worried about the fact that his office in the centre of Vanadzor was set on fire and local authorities have not shown real interest in this condemnable act of terrorism.
I appeal to you to not just support his family and colleagues to be granted the right to visit him, but urge you to question this unjust decision and initiate his immediate release.
You must be aware that I closely follow this case and consider it of high importance to the development of your city and country to end the imprisonment of Arthur Sakunts such as the obvious pressure on his organisation. I share Mr. Sakunts’ vision for a democratic and peaceful Armenia and highly condemn obstacles to his work, expressing my solidarity for him and his efforts, too.
I appreciate your consideration of my letter of protest on his imprisonment and statement of solidarity for Mr. Arthur Sakunts.
(Siegfried Woeber
Citizen of Vienna, Austria)
Артур Сакунц в беде (Президент ХГА Ванадзорский офис)
FREE ARTHUR SAKUNTS! - Imprisoned for fighting for democracy in Armenia.
