DemocracyAlerts
From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.
To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.
(April 5, 2004)
World Movement Participant, Mikael Danielyan, Assaulted in Yerevan, Armenia
A prominent Armenian human rights activist and participant in the Third Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in Durban, South Africa, in February 2004, has been severely beaten in the capital, Yerevan. Mikael Danielyan, chair of the Helsinki Association of Armenia, a staunch defender of human rights and a strong critic of the Armenian government, was attacked by four assailants. According to International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, he was knocked to the ground and beaten for about ten minutes, after which the perpetrators fled. Mikael Danielyan was taken to the hospital in serious condition. We express our solidarity with Mr. Danielyan and his family and insist that the government authorities in the country conduct a fair and open investigation to determine who the perpetrators of this attack were and bring them to justice.
What World Movement Participants can do:
- Write letters to the President and Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia requesting fair and open investigation (see sample letter below)
- Write to Human Rights Ombudsman in Armenia, Larisa Alaverdyan
Mrs. Larisa Alaverdyan
Human Rights Obbudsman/Fund Against Violation of Law
6 Arshakuniats St.
Tel/Fax: (374-1) 58-28-19
E-mail: favl@netsys.am
- Write to Mikael Danielyan expressing your solidarity (letters can be send to the World Movement at world@ned.org and we will forward them to Mikael Danielyan)
For further information, you may also contact the Press Officer of the International Helsinki Federation headquartered in Vienna, at office@ihf-hr.org
Sample Letter:
Mr. Aghvan Hovsepyan
Persecutor General
5 Vazgen Sargsyan Street
Yerevan 375010, RA
Tel./Fax: (374 1) 58-00-01
President Kocharyan
c/o Mr. Armen Gevorgyan
First Assistant to the President
Fax: (3741) 52-15-81
Dear _________________________:
I have learned that on March 30, 2004, my colleague, a prominent Armenian human
rights activist and the chair of the Helsinki Association of Armenia, Mikael Danielyan
has been attacked and severely beaten by four unidentified assailants. He was knocked
down to the ground and beaten for about ten minutes, after which the perpetrators fled. Mr. Danielyan is in the hospital suffering from a concussion.
The recent attack on Mikael Danielyan is deeply disturbing, especially given previous
attacks on Armenian democratic activists, including a grenade attack on independent
journalist Mark Grigoryan.
As a participant in the World Movement for Democracy, I urge you to take whatever
actions necessary to ensure that a fair and open investigation takes place, and that the
perpetrators are brought to justice.
Thank you for your attention and concern.
Sincerely,
__________________________
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