Armenian NGOs demand withdrawal of Russia's Ambassador

In Armenia, a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have accused Ivan Volynkin, the Russia's Ambassador in Yerevan, of interfering in the country's home affairs and demanded his resignation, or apology.

"I'm convinced that Russia should more actively assert its presence here, in the information area of Armenia. There are no doubts about it. However, the neutralization of those NGOs in Armenia, who want to drive a wedge into the Armenian-Russian relations, seem to need using other methods," said Ivan Volynkin in his interview to the newspaper "Noah's Ark" on May 8.

These Ambassador's words aroused indignation in a number of Armenia's NGOs. "We qualify this Volynkin's appeal as a violation of diplomatic norms, a gross interference into the country's internal affairs and as an encroachment on the sovereignty of Armenia. We demand the resignation of the Ambassador or his apology," says the statement of 34 of them.

It was signed, in particular, by the Anticorruption Centre of the "Transparency International", the Journalists' Club "Asparez", the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, the Armenian Constitutional Human Rights Centre and the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly.