Armenian human rights activists ask to punish those who attacked Kharatyan

Thirteen NGOs and human rights organizations of Armenia have disseminated a statement demanding to hold an objective investigation of the attack on the head of the Youth Movement "It Has Begun" Arsen Kharatyan and to punish the criminals.

The statement runs: "On May 28, Arsen Kharatyan, activist of Youth Movements "It Has Begun" and "Now" was severely beaten. The violence committed against the young politician and other rough violations of human rights are the evidences of the authorities' failure to undertake real steps for overcoming a split of the society."

In the opinion of the authors of the statement, this is still more increasing the people's mistrust in those in power. "We condemn the actions of the authorities and we declare that any attempts to deafen the voice of the public, and also all the actions directed at planting the atmosphere of fear will provoke even a greater discontent with the present administration," the human rights activists write. "We demand to ensure an objective investigation into the incident and punish the criminals and their customers."

The document was signed by the Anticorruption Centre "Transparency International", Armenian Committee "Helsinki Civil Assembly" (HCA), Vanadzor HCA Office, "Ouiss", "Lawyers for Human Rights", "Centre of Law and Freedom", Journalists' Club "Asparez", "Against Legal Arbitrariness", "Midzhnaberd", "Zartonk-89", "Civil National Initiative" and Group "Committee for Soldier's Defence".