“EXPEDITE HEARING “A1+” CASE”
Support A1+!“Freedom of Speech” political initiative has sent a letter to the European Court on Human rights, Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the Office on Democratic Institutes and Human Rights, all Embassies andl International Organizations accredited in the Republic of Armenia. Anahit Bayandur, Co-President of Helsinki Civil Assembly of the Armenian Committee has provided the letter to us.
The Letter
Armenia is at the threshold of presidential elections crucial for our people and country. For each citizen of Armenia it is a choice of way to restoration of democracy and law or to further roll down to total terror established by rulings regime.
After the shooting of the Parliament on October 27 1999 when Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Deputy Speaker Yuri Bakhshyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, MPs Leonard Petrosyan, Armenak Armenakyan, Haik Kotanyan, Ruben Miroyan and Herik abrahamyan were brutally murdered, a Stalinist regime was established in Armenia. Terror and total control over all spheres of human life – personal, public, economic and political, were established. The goal of the ruling clan is to bring back the sadly known to the Soviet people atmosphere of fear and apathy, to eradicate not only dissidence, but the very though of dissidence.
A single obstacle was left on the way to total control over citizens – independent TV company A1+. It was closed down on April 2, 2002, violating elementary principles of law. The stuff of the company decided to fight for the right of citizens of Armenia to get honest information and for the right of the stuff to honestly accomplish their professional duties. A1+ lodged a claim to the European Court of Human Rights.
We, the undersigned citizens of Armenia, demand from the usurpers that call themselves authorities, to stop information blockade of Armenia, respect human rights – the right to freely obtain and spread information, right to freedom of speech, right to freedom of choice.
We are asking the European Court of Human Rights to expedite the hearing of the case of independent TV A1+.
We ask everyone who feel strongly about ideals of democracy, to put pressure on the Armenian authorities concerning human rights issues. Being a member of United Nations, Council of Europe and OSCE, Armenia has signed international documents, thus committing to respect all international human rights norms.
Initiative Group of Freedom of Speech
January 25, 2008
