Human Rights in Armenia: an appeal from the 37th FIDH Congress
| Publisher | International Federation for Human Rights |
| Publication Date | 6 April 2010 |
| Cite as | International Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights in Armenia: an appeal from the 37th FIDH Congress, 6 April 2010, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4bfd1bcfc.html [accessed 26 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
6 April 2010
At the Opening Ceremony of the 37th FIDH Congress, FIDH President Souhayr Belhassen issued a call on behalf of the Congress for the immediate liberation of all political prisoners in Armenia. FIDH also reiterated its call for an independent and effective investigation into the events of March 2008 and the disproportionate use of force by the security services. FIDH further expressed concerns about the electoral process and obstacles to freedom of the media.
"We have expressed these concerns repeatedly over the last months to the Armenian authorities at the highest levels – and this morning once again in person to the President of the Republic, as we promised to the families of victims and political prisoners with whom we met yesterday", declared Souhayr Belhassen. "All these issues are of utmost concern to the FIDH Congress, which today launches a solemn appeal to the authorities. We hope that we will receive concrete responses to all of our concerns. We will persist until we obtain them", she added.
"The release of all political prisoners and holding to account those responsible for the ten deaths of 1 March are two of the essential conditions for the effectiveness of the justice system in Armenia", concluded Artak Kirakosyan, representative of FIDH's Armenian member-organisation, Civil Society Institute.
