Armen Rustamyan: Charges against arrested oppositionists may be dropped after April 24 (video)
Arresting leaders of the Founding Parliament opposition movement law-enforcement authorities in Armenia averted repetition of March 1, 2008 bloodshed. This is the opinion of Republican lawmaker Vahram Baghdasaryan. “There could be people in their ranks – one, two, or three - who might stir up provocative actions during the rally. This was their ultimate goal,” says Mr Baghdasaryan. Armen Rustamyan, a senior representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation -Dashnaktsutyun, says the outcome was anticipated. “But I have the impression that Zhirayr [Sefilyan] and his friend wanted to be arrested,” he says. Leaders of the Founding Parliament were detained on Tuesday ahead of the group’s planned anti-government protests in Yerevan. On April 9, the group’s leader, Zhirayr Sefilyan, and two other members - Varuzhan Avetisyan and Garegin Chukaszian - were formally charged with ‘plotting mass disturbances’ during the upcoming ceremonies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Commenting on the actions of law-enforcement bodies, Armen Rustamyan said they were only controlling the situation. “It is not excluded that after April 24 all charges against the Founding Parliament members may be dropped and they may be set free,” he said. Asked whether the decision will not be anti-constitution, Mr Rustamyan said law enforcement officials think that the Sefilyan and his friends pose a risk until April 24. Head of the Heritage faction, Ruben Hakobyan, says the statement of the investigative body that the group was going ‘to change the power through illegal means’ is not convincing. “I carefully studied all phrases and words used by the Founding Parliament and I have not seen a direct threat to the authorities,” he says. Levon Zurabyan, Head of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction, considers Sefilyan and his friends to be ‘political prisoners.’ “How else can you call a person who is subjected to political persecution?” he says.
