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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.

(March 20, 2008)

Democracy Alert: Armenian NGOs and Opposition Parties Call for Mass Rally

Armenian NGOs and opposition parties are circulating calls for a mass rally this Friday, March 21, to mourn the deaths of those killed in clashes between protestors and police in Yerevan on March 1. Protesters are being asked to stand in silence, in a single row. The line will extend from Liberty Square through Northern Avenue, Abovyan Street, Republic Square, Vazgen Sargsyan Street, and Italy Street. In the latter section, the line will be situated on the walkway facing the Prosecutor General's Office. Protestors may wear black armbands to mourn those who died, and may carry candles.

The State of Emergency that has been imposed in Yerevan since the clashes is expected to be lifted March 20. However, the government has permanently altered the law, making it more difficult to organize protests, and continues to detain hundreds of opposition activists. The Council on Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, has called for “an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry initiated to clarify what actually happened during the confrontations in Yerevan between the police and opposition demonstrators on 1 March.” The situation in Armenia remains highly precarious, and it is unclear how events will unfold.

After the results of the February 19 presidential election were disputed, continuous rallies in the capital drew tens of thousands of protestors with crowds swelling to an estimated 200,000 at the height of the protests. These mass meetings ended on March 1, when government forces violently disbanded the protestors and President Robert Kocharyan declared a State of Emergency. The government has reported eight people killed and more than 131 injured from the resulting clash, although unconfirmed reports claim there were many more casualties. Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian is currently under house arrest, although he has been allowed to attend court hearings that challenge the election results. Armenian police report that 59 people have been arrested in connection to the protests, including many opposition party leaders, with hundreds of other activists detained for questioning and released.

Under rules of the State of Emergency, media were ordered to cite only official sources when covering national news, and Internet access has been curtailed. Beginning March 13, these restraints were nominally eased, but journalists in Armenia have reported continued restriction, including censorship of newspapers.  In addition, limitations remain in place on the ability of nongovernmental organizations and political parties to function within the country.

During the elections, there were widespread reports of intimidation, threats and violence against voters and opposition activists, as well as reports of ballot stuffing and electoral fraud. According to official results, Serzh Sarkisian, the current Prime Minister and preferred candidate of Mr. Kocharyan, received 53%, while Mr. Ter-Petrossian, a former president, received 21.5%.  Mr. Sarkisian needed over 50% to win on the first round. The OSCE judged the elections as basically in line with international standards, even though they noted “bad or very bad” counts at 14% of the polling places.

NGOs in Armenia have been actively monitoring and documenting events, and have issued statements condemning the election and the government crack down, and calling for a return of civil liberties.

For further information, go to:

• Journalists from Meltex Inc.’s A1+ News gathered video footage of the protests, despite police breaking two of the cameras being used by their journalists. (http://www.a1plus.am/en, http://www.youtube.com/a1plusnews).
• Armenian Committee of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly sent a letter to the OSCE requesting that the final election report more fully reflect election irregularities, as well as an appeal to the international community for assistance (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908achca.pdf; http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Helsinki2.pdf).
• Helsinki Association released a repudiation of the election results and an appeal for support (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Helsinki.pdf).
• A coalition of Armenian media NGOs have released a statement demanding the reestablishment of press freedoms (http://www.hetq.am/eng/politics/7815/).
• Groups in Georgia have reacted quickly to support their colleagues in Armenia. A coalition of Georgian NGOs organized a petition to the international community for assistance to Armenian opposition leaders (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Coalition.pdf).
• Footage of the events has been posted on a blog. (http://marti21.blogspot.com)

Daily news updates are available in Russian and English from the Caucasus Switchboard at http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/.

Armenian NGOs and opposition parties are circulating calls for a mass rally this Friday, March 21, to mourn the deaths of those killed in clashes between protestors and police in Yerevan on March 1. Protesters are being asked to stand in silence, in a single row. The line will extend from Liberty Square through Northern Avenue, Abovyan Street, Republic Square, Vazgen Sargsyan Street, and Italy Street. In the latter section, the line will be situated on the walkway facing the Prosecutor General's Office. Protestors may wear black armbands to mourn those who died, and may carry candles.

The State of Emergency that has been imposed in Yerevan since the clashes is expected to be lifted March 20. However, the government has permanently altered the law, making it more difficult to organize protests, and continues to detain hundreds of opposition activists. The Council on Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, has called for “an independent, impartial and transparent inquiry initiated to clarify what actually happened during the confrontations in Yerevan between the police and opposition demonstrators on 1 March.” The situation in Armenia remains highly precarious, and it is unclear how events will unfold.

After the results of the February 19 presidential election were disputed, continuous rallies in the capital drew tens of thousands of protestors with crowds swelling to an estimated 200,000 at the height of the protests. These mass meetings ended on March 1, when government forces violently disbanded the protestors and President Robert Kocharyan declared a State of Emergency. The government has reported eight people killed and more than 131 injured from the resulting clash, although unconfirmed reports claim there were many more casualties. Opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian is currently under house arrest, although he has been allowed to attend court hearings that challenge the election results. Armenian police report that 59 people have been arrested in connection to the protests, including many opposition party leaders, with hundreds of other activists detained for questioning and released.

Under rules of the State of Emergency, media were ordered to cite only official sources when covering national news, and Internet access has been curtailed. Beginning March 13, these restraints were nominally eased, but journalists in Armenia have reported continued restriction, including censorship of newspapers.  In addition, limitations remain in place on the ability of nongovernmental organizations and political parties to function within the country.

During the elections, there were widespread reports of intimidation, threats and violence against voters and opposition activists, as well as reports of ballot stuffing and electoral fraud. According to official results, Serzh Sarkisian, the current Prime Minister and preferred candidate of Mr. Kocharyan, received 53%, while Mr. Ter-Petrossian, a former president, received 21.5%.  Mr. Sarkisian needed over 50% to win on the first round. The OSCE judged the elections as basically in line with international standards, even though they noted “bad or very bad” counts at 14% of the polling places.

NGOs in Armenia have been actively monitoring and documenting events, and have issued statements condemning the election and the government crack down, and calling for a return of civil liberties.

For further information, go to:

• Journalists from Meltex Inc.’s A1+ News gathered video footage of the protests, despite police breaking two of the cameras being used by their journalists. (http://www.a1plus.am/en, http://www.youtube.com/a1plusnews).
• Armenian Committee of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly sent a letter to the OSCE requesting that the final election report more fully reflect election irregularities, as well as an appeal to the international community for assistance (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908achca.pdf; http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Helsinki2.pdf).
• Helsinki Association released a repudiation of the election results and an appeal for support (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Helsinki.pdf).
• A coalition of Armenian media NGOs have released a statement demanding the reestablishment of press freedoms (http://www.hetq.am/eng/politics/7815/).
• Groups in Georgia have reacted quickly to support their colleagues in Armenia. A coalition of Georgian NGOs organized a petition to the international community for assistance to Armenian opposition leaders (http://www.wmd.org/documents/31908Coalition.pdf).
• Footage of the events has been posted on a blog. (http://marti21.blogspot.com)

Daily news updates are available in Russian and English from the Caucasus Switchboard at http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/.