September 27, 2005

National Citizens’ Initiative Takes Part in Demonstration in Front of the Military Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia

Yerevan—The Civic Council Defending the Rights of Araik Zalian, Musa Serobian, and Razmik Sargisian, with the active participation of the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI), held a protest on September 27 across the Military Prosecutor's Office located at 66a Sundukian Street. On May 18, the three military servicemen were sentenced to 15 years in prison by the First Instance Court of the Syunik Region on the allegations that they had killed two fellow soldiers. The demonstrators demanded an immediate end to the ongoing illegal actions and the reinstatement of the rights of the soldiers.

The relatives of the unlawfully indicted Zalian, Serobian, and Sargisian, as well as the lawyers, the human rights advocates, and the representatives of a number of NGOs, more than thirty people in all, took part in the protest. The participants carried banners that read: “End Prohibitions,” “We do not want to become Next,” and the photographs of the three young men, the victims of lawlessness. The protesters insisted that Military Prosecutor Gagik Jhangirian meet with them to give an explanation for the illegal and fabricated proceedings.

However, no official came out to meet the rally participants. Instead, a staff member of the Prosecutor's Office told those who were gathered that Jhangirian was out of town. Subsequently, the demonstrators once again briefed the reporters of the details of the concocted case. They underscored how the authorities through torture were able to solicit a “confession” from Razmik Sargisian. Legal defender Zaruhi Postanjian also spoke to the reporters about the deteriorating health condition of Sargisian, who has been on a hunger-strike for the past two months.

In the end, the participants of the rally invited all those who are concerned with human right issues to take part in their future events.

The protest demonstration was widely covered by the print and electronic media.

The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.

For further information, please call (3741) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax (3741) 52-48-46; e-mail info@nci.am