March 27, 2006

IN DEFENSE OF HERITAGE

Since March 4, 2006, Chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian of the Heritage Party and the staff of its central office have been forcibly denied the right of entry into their own place of work, which under the existing contract is theirs until June of this year.

Considering this to be a flagrant infringement, on the part of the incumbent presidency and its ruling clique, of fundamental civil liberties and political freedoms, MP and chairman of the National Democrats’ Alliance Arshak Sadoyan has launched an initiative whereby he has petitioned all political parties in Armenia as well as institutions that are interested in the establishment of democracy in the Republic to raise their voice of protest against this blatant lawlessless.

The authors of this initiative declare that the letter is open to all political forces and public and private organizations which choose to demonstrate their solidarity on this matter.

OPEN LETTER TO ARMENIA ’S CITIZENS AND ALL INSTITUTIONS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY IN THE REPUBLIC

On March 4, 2006, a criminal break-in took place at the premises which Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian has been leasing for more than 12 years. Without advance notice or legal warrant, the lock of the Heritage Party headquarters’ main outer door was smashed and replaced with another.

As a result, the chairman of the Heritage Party and the staff of its central office have been forcibly denied the right of entry into their own place of work, which under the existing contract is theirs until June of this year. The absolute closure of access to Heritage’s official seal, documents, computers, and means of telecommunication has brought the party’s activities to a standstill, paralyzing the regular contact between its headquarters and regional offices.

Raffi Hovannisian and the executive board of the Heritage Party have issued formal and telephonic petitions to Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepian, and Police Chief Haik Harutiunian regarding this unlawful act. No response, explanation, or comment has been received to date from the law enforcement bodies.

In fact, the constitutional order has once again been violated in Armenia. A leading opposition party that has stood out of late with its civic and public initiatives has effectively and illegally been shut down. We consider this to be a flagrant infringement, on the part of the incumbent presidency and its ruling clique, of fundamental civil liberties and political freedoms.

We demand that the Armenian authorities reopen the Heritage Party headquarters immediately and implement measures guaranteeing its normal, unfettered, and secure operations.

Forum of Intellectuals of Armenia
National Democrats’ Alliance
Republic Party
National Renaissance Party
National Democratic Union
New Times Party
Social Democrat Hnchak Party
Social Democratic Party of Armenia
Social Ecological Party of Armenia
Democratic Motherland Party
Motherland and Pride Union
National Unity Mission Party
Armenian Center for Cultural Assistance and Strategy
“Human Rights 96” NGO
“The Officer’s Pride” NGO
Anti-globalists’ Union
“People are the Country’s Owners” Union
Condominium Presidents’ Association
“Kharberd” Compatriotic-charitable NGO
People’s Party of Armenia
Democracy and Labor Party
Constitutional Right Union
Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia