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Friends

  • Arshak Banouchyan
    Matenadaran Deputy Director

    Today, those, who find themselves in prison, bear this weight with pride. Today, those who are visiting their loved ones in jail are not dispirited. I myself was in jail for four months and understand very clearly the pain and difficulties that the wives, parents and children of political prisoners endure. I call upon everyone to help families of political prisoners – because it a consequence of their suffering upon which we will build a law-based and just Armenia.
     
  • Yervand Manaryan
    Actor

    I cannot be indifferent, knowing that a political prisoner is in jail only to defend my own dignity and honor. I cannot be indifferent because otherwise I would be a scoundrel.  How can I be indifferent towards this person, who has taken this burden upon himself? Material support is also a form of moral support. I believe this. It is indeed our attitude that determines the nature of our society. I want to be part of such a deep society and that is why I call upon every one to support our political prisoners. 
     
  • Vardan Harutyunyan
    Human rights advocate

    Political prisoners have a need for both legal and social assistance support. Today we mainly put the stress on legal assistance, because these hearings, which have and are still taking place, do not have the right to be called “hearings”. Unquestionably, these cases will all reach the European Court on Human Rights and receive their correct and fair appraisal. Any louma or cent you will collect is not only a help to a specific person or family, but helps to support the establishment of democracy in Armenia. In other words, the protection of political prisoners, the support of their families is an important step in the road to establish democracy in Armenia.
     
  • Artak Zeinalyan
    Member of the Political Council "Hanrapetutyun" party

    The political prisoners need support and we have to do our part to obtain their freedom. Let’s invest our time and resources in order to protect their rights in our own courts and in the European Court of Human Rights. We also have to ensure that the families of these political prisoners are able to live, and that the absence of husbands and relatives should not become an unbearable burden on their lives. Many of these seventy political prisoners are the only breadwinners of their families. Today, many families have been deprived of their only source of income.
     
  • Arthur Sakunts
    Human Rights Advocate

    We cannot live fully in a country where people are deprived of liberty and convicted for their political views. We expect that our compatriots would have an input in the establishment of democracy and protection of human rights for the first time and the first step in that way is the protection of political prisoners.
     
  • Husik Baghdasaryan

    While in prison, we were actively taking part in the political life. We were following, analyzing the situation and could see that the movement heads forward quite dynamically. Not a single political prisoner regretted a second for what he did. We considered ourselves not political prisoners but political hostages who were isolated from the movement and kept in a closed area. The moral-psychological state of the political prisoners is very well; after coming out of prison everyone is ready to continue the fight for democracy, legitimate government, entirety of Kharabakh and Armenia
     
  • Irina Baghdasaryan

    Spouse of Tigran Baghdasaryan, political prisoner

    I apply to all kindhearted people, who are able to help political prisoners to do so, because most of them need your assistance. I would like to remind you the phrase from the Steven Spielberg’s famous “Schindler's List” movie. It says: “If you can help just one person, you will save the whole World.” So, if you can help just one family, you will save Armenia. People need your help!
     
  • Karine Afrikyan

    Ex-head of USA and Canada department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    She has been fired from her job because of her civic standpoint.

    In Armenia today more than ever the human rights issue is critical especially taken into account the existence of more than seventy political prisoners. The history of humankind has proved that human rights are not being supported from outside and do not have top-down character. It is a bottom-up movement where everybody bears responsibility with individual and collective efforts. I appeal to you and ask for your support for political prisoners. Believe me, today it is the most significant problem of Armenia. Supporting political prisoners means supporting human rights protection and the civic movement currently existing in Armenia.
     
  • Anna Hakobyan

    What is done in Armenia today is being done not only for the citizens and inhabitants of Armenia but for all Armenians; so that each Armenian has a chance to return to homeland and nothing makes him/her leave the Homeland. This is something that all those who are aware of the fatality of the moment should do. Everyone should contribute. This contribution can be financial, moral, legal, organizational. Any support encourages people, particularly those in prison and the politically oppressed who are in hiding. They bear all the difficulties that are needed for justice and rule of law in Armenia. They bear it with pride, without depression, and this should be appreciated, this should deserve praising. Their families, parents, wives, children should not have every day problems. The politically oppressed should see that the whole nation stands with them.
     
  • Vardan Malkhasyan

    Political prisoners are national heroes, devoted sons of our Motherland. They are imprisoned notwithstanding the fact they are totally innocent. The only ‘crime’ they have committed, they were struggling to achieve freedom for our people and our country. I urge everyone to address the situation properly taking into account the fact that Armenia is in hands of tyrants. I urge everyone to keep in mind that people who have nothing in common with our nation; our culture and our beliefs seized the power in this country. These people are destroying our Motherland and defacing our values every single day. I call everyone to support political prisoners since there is a real need for that action.
     

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  • Knarik Khachatryan
    Wife of Arshak Banuchyan, political prisoner

    My husband was in a jail for four months. During this period of time our family has faced many difficulties, both financial and psychological. Although my husband now is free, I take part in all protest actions organized by wives of political prisoners, because I know quite well how it feels. I call everyone to be with families of political prisoners and help them, because those people in jail are creating the future of our children.
     
  • Aram Sargsyan
    Head of Republic party

    "Our imprisoned friends are free in contrast to those in power. They are free in spirit. And they do not get discouraged even though they know that their families are in need. There are number of problems we face but I would like to focus on two areas legal costs and social conditions. I believe that it's a duty of each single Armenian to support those who were fighting for all and, to the extent, are unfairly bearing difficulties for all of us. Love towards other people is the most important responsibility of the Christian man."
     
  • Gagik Jhangiryan
    Political Prisoner

    We, the political prisoners of the Republic of Armenia or more accurately put - the political hostages, are ready to bear our cross of detention as long as it is necessary to get rid of this unlawful regime. Our state and the pan-national movement are interconnected - the stronger, the greater, the more ideologically solid and united the movement is outside, the more united, joint and stronger we - the political prisoners are inside.

     As long as we, the political prisoners, are united, joint and unbending the pan-national movement will remain strong and solid outside. This is so, as the purpose of our movement is the victory.

    I request, I call for, I plead to my countrymen not to stop the fight until legitimate government is established in Armenia, the basic human rights and freedoms are respected in Armenia, until Armenia becomes the country of our dreams, the fatherland for all of us.
     
  • Hermine Matevosyan
    Daughter of political prisoner Davit Matevosyan

    I am Hermine Matevosyan, daughter of political prisoner Davit Matevosyan. I am a member of Hima youth initiative. Why I am with Hima? Because I believe that Hima is a real power. There are many children of political prisoners in Hima movement. We are conducting different street actions devoted to political prisoners. I think there are more than 75 political prisoners in Armenia because every freedom-loving person is a political prisoner in this country. Nowadays Armenia is a huge prison for all free people. There are many families of political prisoners facing problems, many that need our help.
     

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  • Khanum Hovhannisyan
    Wife of the politically oppressed Misaq Hovakimyan

    If today you protect the political prisoners and their families you will protect the freely thinking citizens of Armenia, you will help them in cleaning Augean stables that Armenia turned into. And in a short period of time Armenia will not lack the statehood characteristics of those countries which you have preferred and inhabited.
     
  • Levon Zourabyan
    Coordinator of Armenian National Congress

    Armenia is in a critical situation. And it is a decisive moment for Armenian Democracy. Democracy for instance is the sole resource for Armenia to resist the challenges our country and our nation are facing right now. We call everyone to support Democracy, to support our freedom fighters those who are imprisoned for their political standings. Your support and assistance are crucial! Armenian National Congress appeals for your contribution in helping political prisoners, in organizing legal support and in fostering democratic values in Armenia.
     

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News

  • [ 07 Feb 2009 ]
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  • Human Rights in Armenia took place in Yerevan
    [ 08 Dec 2008 ]
    On December 8, 2008 an event entitled Human Rights in Armenia took place in Yerevan. The event was dedicated to 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and organized by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Armenian Committee and All Armenian Unio
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