Victims of political repressions in Armenia to be commemorated in Europe, Russia and USA

Inauguration of the new president of Armenia will be held in Yerevan on April 9. According to Arminfo news agency, it will be held in the hall of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after A.Spendiarov.  Sarkissyan will take the oath in front of the Armenian parliament, to gather for an urgent session. After that a military parade will take place at the theater square before the Opera and Ballet building.

Day.Az reports that tenseness is rising in Armenia before the inauguration ceremony. In line with Armenian sources, the plans of the authorities faces serious resentment of the community. A number of public and political organizations of Armenia announced that it is undesired to hold inauguration on April 9. The thing is that the fortieth day of mourning of the victims of March 1 protest in Yerevan falls on this say.

"We reject this cynical humiliating disrespect towards the whole people", says a statement of public organization "National awareness", released by mass media.

The authors noted that on April 9 the whole Armenian people will mark the fortieth day of those who fought for freedom of people. It was noted that the mourning arrangements will be held in line with traditions-in black wearings and attributes. In particular, all who is willing to participate will put flowers to memorial of Alexander Maskinsyan in Yerevan, where tragic events occurred near French embassy in Yerevan. Representatives of Armenian Intelligence Forum also called on the authorities to postpone the ceremony of presidential inauguration.

Official Yerevan decided to play on outstripping, considering the spirits among the population. This is proven by the decision of the Armenian church to hold the fortieth day on Sunday on April 6. At the same time Echmiadzin referred to tradition when representatives of Armenian public said that 40 days have not passed from March 1 until April 6. The statement, voiced by clergymen says that "in line with tradition, the seventh, fortieth and first year of mourning are held in Armenian churches on the nearest Sundays of the said dates upon the completion of Holy Liturgy (Novosti-Armenia). An exception is the Day of "victims of genocide" in Turkey -April 24, when the Holy prayer is held in all churches regardless of the day.  

It is not surprising that the substantiations presented by the Armenian church aroused resentment among the Armenian society and diaspora. This is proven by the fact that preparations to mourning events on April 9 has not been stopped and is gaining steam. In particular,the Armenian diaspora plans to hold mourning actions in front of the Armenian embassies in Europe, Russia and the United States. During the events, their participants plan to light candles in memory of the victims of political repressions in Armenia.

The diaspora representatives will gather before the building of the European Union in Brussels. The European society will be presented different materials (leaflets, photos and DVD disks) about tragic events of March 1. One of the major tasks of the action organizers is to introduce the real information about situation in Armenia to the European political establishment-about usurpation of powers of Sarkissyan's regime and continue persecution of political opponents.

A picket in protection of rights of political prisoners in Armenia will also be held along with the mourning action in Moscow. It should be noted that Moscow authorities sanctioned the action. As is reported, the Russian political establishment shows resentment with the situation in Armenia, where new authorities have caused resentment of the world society by their actions. Therefore, by initiating action of protest on the day of Sarkissyan's inauguration, Moscow tries to prove its support to the fair demand of Armenian community on liberalization of political situation in the country.

It should be reminded that a number of protests were held in the European countries and USA in front of the Armenian embassies and international organizations for the purpose of drawing attention of world society to political processes in Armenia. After the elections in the Los Angeles district, called "Small Armenia", meetings of protests were held against violence, applied to peaceful protesters on March 1 (Caucasian knot). The action participants noted that the actions of protest will continue as the Diaspora's resentment is too great. The meeting was attended by Armenians, residing in other cities of California: Fresno, Sacramento and others. The biggest Armenian lobby organization of the United States -American Armenian Assembly has released a statement, presenting condolences to the relatives of innocent people, killed during the demonstrations in Yerevan held on March 1.

The actions are also held in Internet. Collection of signatures under petition "Stop abuse of powers in Armenia" is going on. In line with the text of the petition, posted at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ its participants urge the world society to interfere with the political crisis in Armenia so that to prevent the further deterioration of the situation, condemn the mass violation of human rights by the authorities and law enforcement bodies of Armenia, pursuing the goal to establish criminal regime in the country, put pressure on Yerevan so the latter stops persecution of opposition members and protesters and make the Armenian government release all political prisoners.

/Day.Az/