STATEMENT ON THE ANNULEMENT OF THE FACT-FINDING GROUP

On June 6, Serzh Sargsyan annulled his executive order on the establishment of the Fact-Finding Group of Experts, and thereby put an end to the activities of the Group.

The Fact-Finding Group was established due to active involvement of Armenian society and international community, and, particularly COE Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg. The Group was comprised of two members from the ruling coalition and of the opposition, respectively, as well as one representative from the Office of RA Human Rights Defender, and operated for six months focusing primarily on the circumstances of the assassination of the victims of March 1. The work of the Fact-Finding Group was highly assessed, and its crucial importance was underscored in PACE Resolution 1643. In April, the Fact- Finding Group submitted its first written report about the circumstances on the death of officer Hamlet Tadevosyan to the Parliamentary Commission. The evidence adduced in the report turned the version that the authorities had been circulating until that point upside down. In case the Group had the opportunity to continue its work, several more reports relating to other victims would have been presented to the same Parliamentary Commission in a short period of time. Nonetheless, upon initiative of the representative of the Human Rights Defender V. Stepanyan (Chair of the Fact-Finding Group), who was later joined by the representatives of the authorities R. Avagyan and G. Tovmasyan, the work of the Fact-Finding Group was first hindered for two weeks in May, then, they refused to continue their activities within the Group.

The Armenian National Congress declares: the disbanding of the Fact-Finding Group is nothing but surrender of the regime in face of the indisputable proof revealed by the Group, that the authorities spared no effort to obstruct in the last year and a half. Only the produced ample and incontestable proof of involvement of high-rank officials no longer in office, or currently in office, in the criminal events, namely killings of March 1, could have forced the authorities to resort to it.

We condemn the cessation of the work of the Fact- Finding Group and once again claim independent investigation of the events of March 1 with participation of international experts.

We are also convinced that this outrageous fact will find due response in the Armenian society and international community, specifically in PACE and the COE Human Rights Commissioner and others.

Source Publication: levonpresident.am
Source: http://www.levonpresident.am/?catID=23&contID=441

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