European Greens denounce use of violence by Armenian Authorities resulting in eight deaths: EGP welcomes attempts by EU to find peaceful solution to political crisis
The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today condemned the brutal repression by the Armenian authorities of a peaceful opposition protest in the capital city Yerevan on 1st March which resulted in the deaths of 8 protesters. The EGP Spokespersons also called for the state of emergency which has been declared to be ended immediately .
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek said: " We condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of violence by Armenian security forces to break up what was a generally peaceful protest by opposition supporters who dispute the result of the country's recent presidential election. It is particularly tragic that eight protesters were killed and that many more people were seriously injured in the violence. We call on the Armenian authorities to release all those protesters arrested. It is also crucial that a thorough and independent investigation into the actions of the police and special forces is undertaken immediately. We also call on the Armenian authorities to immediately lift the temporary state of emergency declared in the wake of the violence so that the country can return to democracy. "
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts continued: " We welcome the decision by the EU to send Peter Semneby, its special representative for the South Caucasus, to Yerevan so that he can meet with both the opposition and the government with a view to starting a dialogue between them. Only through such constructive dialogue will politicians in Armenia be able to find a solution to the current crisis. The South Caucusus is an extremely volatile area and it is vital that politicians in Armenia show restraint.
We share the disappointment of French Green MEP Marie Anne Isler Béguin, the head of the European Parliament's electoral observers' mission to Armenia for the election on 19th February, that the Armenian authorities did not heed the international observers' call to investigate all alleged electoral irregularities thoroughly and to show restraint when dealing with protests by opposition supporters. "
