September 17, 2007

Heritage Statement on the Brutal Beating of Hovhannes Galajian

The Heritage Party and its parliamentary fraction deplore the vile act committed on September 15 against Hovhannes Galajian, editor-in-chief of Iskakan Iravunk weekly. Galajian was attacked by two assailants and beaten with metal bars near his place of work.

Regrettably, violent crimes committed against journalists are becoming more commonplace. These actions take place more frequently during the pre-election season and remain unexposed for the most part, whereas their architects and perpetrators continue to enjoy liberty. This particular malicious act might not have ocurred had our relevant state bodies uncovered in the past the numerous encroachments upon the free expression of thought and the right to receive information, and if certain halls of power and high-level officials had not backed the criminals and thus obstructed solution of the crimes.

Yesterday, Larisa Alaverdian, Stepan Safarian, and Armen Martirosian—members of Heritage’s parliamentary group—visited Hovhannes Galajian, who had just undergone surgery and is still being kept in the intensive care department at St. Gregory the Illuminator Hospital. On behalf of the Heritage Party and its parliamentary delegation, the MPs conveyed their solidarity with the journalist and fellow citizen.

Condemning this heinous crime, the Heritage Party and parliamentary group call on the Republic’s law enforcers to reveal the motives behind, and the executors of, this grave felony. The legitimacy, dignity, and reputation of the Armenian state, authorities, and all of us depend on the full disclosure of this transgression and the bringing of its engineers to justice. The promise of democracy for Armenia demands no less.