khosq.com

Dear Mr Davis,

I refer to my letter of the 8th January this year, in which I expressed my concerns about freedom of speech in Armenia. I wrote of how those who expressed opinions opposing the incumbent party or who reported favourably about the single ‘Real’ opposition Presidential candidate have been terrorized by the authorities. I also covered how resolution of the Karabakh conflict would be used by Armenia’s two Karabakhi leaders as a tool of persuasion with the international community for the election.

Since my writing, these processes have been ongoing in Armenia, especially following the bloody events of the1st March. Today the CoE is not acting responsibly with regard its commitments to Armenia’s democratic opposition under resolutions 1609 and 1620. Consequently, a number of opposition members held for several months as political prisoners have written to Mr. Hammarberg,
Commissioner for Human Rights, refusing to meet with him. They are frustrated by a seemingly indifferent Council of Europe and have opted instead to go on a hunger protest. In recent days, one of our prominent investigative journalists has been beaten and hospitalized, following his coverage of corrupt dealings by
a member of the Armenian regime, one of several such incidents. The list of human rights abuses in Armenia through recent months goes on and on.

Armenia’s forcibly imposed President Serzh Sargsyan continues to use the Karabakh issue as a means to resolve his problems with the international community, including especially the Council of Europe, which has turned a blind eye to the ongoing Armenian regime atrocities, preferring to hope for a resolution on Karabakh.

In Armenia, the most important issue is to safeguard the rights of RoA citizens, the country’s democratic image and international reputation. But whilst the Council of Europe continues to support a regime which openly mocks its demands, for the sake of a secret and deceptive process to resolve the
Karabakh issue, then not only will human rights and democracy in Armenia continue to deteriorate, but problems with Karabakh will worsen rather than be properly resolved. Moreover, the reputation of the Council of Europe is under threat.

I write to you again in the trust that the Council of Europe will stand by its promises to the people of Armenia and take the appropriate action to improve, rather than worsen an already critical situation.

Yours Sincerely,

Bruce Tasker

Other bloggers and concerned parties should also write to private.office@coe.int'