FIDH President urges to release Armenian political prisoners

The crimes committed on March 1, 2008, in Yerevan should not remain unpunished; they should be solved, and political prisoners should be set free. This was stated today at a press conference by Souhayr Belhassen, President of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), who added that her delegation came to Armenia not to hang awards.

According to her story, Armenia saw some progress in the sphere of human rights. She expressed gratitude to Armenian leaders for giving a chance to hold the forum: "The FIDH does its work by cooperating with the authorities. Without such dialogue any serious work is impossible."

The head of the FIDH said that the focus of the forum to take place in Armenia on April 6-8 will be on the situation in the system of justice and the problem of human rights. "Our priority care is the functioning of the system of justice and how it may affect the prisoners and, first of all, political prisoners. In Armenia, it refers to those imprisoned after the events on March 1, 2008, when ten persons were lost. Among the convicts there were people accused only on the basis of policemen's evidences," said Ms Belhassen.

As to the plans of the FIDH in the issue of releasing political prisoners and solving the crimes committed on March 1, 2008, the human rights defender has noted: "Our work began not today. I'm not for the first time in Armenia. Our organization was the first to publish a report on the events on March 1. I've come here not just to shake hands with high-ranking officials."

"We've reminded the authorities of Armenia that they should not keep silent, but make everything to solve the crimes. There's no doubt that this evil deed should not remain unpunished. We've not come here to ladle out honours; we hope to boost solving crimes and release political prisoners," Ms Belhassen has stated.

She said that on April 5 members of the FIDH delegation met families of political prisoners. "They gave us all the details of the present situation. I want to assure you that these cases will not only be announced - this is the least that I can do, but we'll do everything possible to gain practical results in this issue. Our priorities are in release all political prisoners and, certainly, in inquiry and punishment all the March 1 culprits," said the President of the FIDH.

She also noted that being a journalist, she is first of all worried with the freedom of speech in Armenia.

Artak Kirakosyan, chairman of the FIDH partner organization - the Civil Society Institute - also said that the most important task for today is release 15 political prisoners. Besides, as he said, those guilty of 10 deaths should be brought to responsibility. Mr Kirakosyan believes that changes in the judiciary are impossible overnight, but the only consolation for today is a very professional team of lawyers, who act strictly within the bounds of the law, unlike the prosecutor's office and the police.

Let us remind you that today Yerevan opens the 37th Forum of the International Federation of Human Rights with the main topic "Justice: Efficient Right to defence Before Independent Court. New Challenges". The event has gathered more than 300 delegates from 140 countries of the world. The forum will last till April 8.