March 13, 2006

Heritage Headquarters Still Under Lock

Yerevan—Raffi K. Hovannisian, chairman of the Heritage Party, today sent a communiqué to Armenia’s Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepian and Police Chief Haik Harutiunian in regard to the unlawful operation carried out against its main office on March 4. The forcible closure of Heritage’s premises, it states, has de facto resulted in the unconstitutional and illegal cessation of the party’s activity. “The party’s archives, its seal, all documents necessary for normal operations, as well as personal and family belongings are at the office. Hence, I formally request that you consider this as a declaration concerning an act that entails elements of a crime, give the relevant legal assessment of what has occurred, and bring those responsible to justice,” Hovannisian’s statement concludes.

On March 9, upon his return from Europe, where he had taken part in an international forum on regional security and a number of meetings, Raffi Hovannisian spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, who committed in short order to address and resolve the continuing illegality.

The next day, on March 10, Hovannisian sent a letter to the director of the Hakob Paronian Musical Comedy State Theater, proposing that pending the Prime Minister’s formal directive this shameful violation of the right of access to one’s own place of work be immediately removed. No response has been received to date.