On December 10 the National Security Service of RA arrested the coordinator of the “Protection of Liberated Lands” NGO, commander of Shushi battalion, coordinator of the initiative “Union of Armenian Volunteers” lieutenant colonel, director of the board of “Arax-Kur” foundation, Zhirayr Sefilyan.
According to the announcement issued by the “Protection of Liberated Lands” NGO, the NSS has searched the office of the “Arax-Kur” and the apartments of the members of the mentioned organization. On December 10 in Yerevan and Marzes 32 more people were arrested. Most part of them after the inquiry was released with a signature not to leave the country. The arrest of Jirair Sefilyan and Vardan Malkhasyan, members of the Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers Action worried their supporters and other opposition forces who met at the Armenia Hotel on December 11 to express their attitude. They were charged with an attempt of a coup. The government and pro-government, as well as Yerkrapah were invited to the meeting but failed to show up. The representatives of Civil Disobedience, the anti-criminal movement and the movement for defense of liberated territories were present. The friends of the arrested figures informed that Jirair Sefilyan was arrested by 15 masked men in a restaurant in the presence of his pregnant wife, forcing him to lie on the floor. Vardan Malkhasyan was arrested at night in his house in the presence of his sick wife. The participants of the meeting agreed that this style of action of the government is not news, and this is another effort to frighten the political sphere and the society, and Armenia is resembling Armenia of the year 1937, the law enforcement agencies do anything they want, neglecting the public opinion. Academician Lenser Aghalovyan noticed that the arrest of Jirair Sefilyan, a Diaspora Armenian who fought in Artsakh, by the National Security Service threatens our National Security and repels the Diaspora. Academician Raphael Ghazaryan said Jirair Sefilyan said what many other people said, the government is worried by the organizational steps taken by him. “They are afraid of the words consolidation and organization,” stated Samvel Harutiunyan, member of the Consolidation of Armenian Volunteers Action. The friends believe that the initiative of Jirair Sefilyan and his supporters to set up Arax-Kur Foundation was the reason for the series of arrests to prevent the initiative. But the initiative did not fail, the friends assure. “There were about 100 people and 100 guns. None was exposed. They let the gangs free but they keep liberation soldiers under surveillance,” said Harutiun Aivazyan, Republic Party. “There is no need to speak long. Our leaders are not flexible, they repeat what they have already done,” stated Raphael Ghazaryan. “We need to take definite steps, talking will not lead anywhere,” stated liberation soldier Roland Ghazaryan. Another liberation soldier Michael Apresyan stated that “this performance was staged by Robert Kocharyan, Serge Sargsyan, Haik Harutiunyan.” A decision was made to make a statement of claims before making a political statement. The political statement will have been made by the weekend, meanwhile, the statement of claims demand releasing Jirair Sefilyan and solve the problem of citizenship of Jirair Sefilyan to exclude the possibility of deportation. If Jirair Sefilyan is deported, this is the second decision of the government on deporting an Armenian from Armenia. The first was Vahagn Chakhalyan, a citizen of Georgia.
Right after the gathering rumors were spread that Sefilyan was deported from Amenia. A bit later those rumors were denied. According to A1+ yesterday at around 6 p.m. the NSS agents interrupted the meeting of Sefilyan with his lawyer, Vahe Grigoryan. The latter has informed that most probably it’s planned to deport Sefilyan at night by Yerevan-Aleppo flight. The flight was supposed to take place at 11:25p.m. The lawyer has also said that the date of issue of the passport of his client is expired and that he’ll have problems when crossing the border of Syria. Also, it turns out that Sefilyan’s wife is the assistant to the Ambassador of Lebanon to RA. It means that Sefilyan, being the husband of the Ambassador’s assistant’s wife is under the protection of Geneva Convention. It means that all the actions instigated against Sefilyan may originate a serious diplomatic and international noise. Another interesting fact as well. According to the communications department of the NSS announced that the NSS has found irrefutable evidence, by which the citizen of Lebanon, Zhirayr Selifyan and his several partners through their so-called “Union of Armenian Volunteers”, which is not even a registered organization in Armenia, is planning to interfere in to the process of the coming elections of Armenia through illegal and forceful methods as well as certain aim to apply radical ways of impeding the Parliamentary elections. According to the same statement, on December 2, 2006, during the closed session if the Yerevan State Dance College, several of the heads of the structure called on those present to resort of force in order to take power. According to the press center of the National Security Service, they announced that the only way to get rid of the authorities is through armed rebellion. They have also introduced action plans. The same statement also informs that a criminal case has been initiated in regard of Article 301 of Criminal Code (“Active petitions to forcefully change the order of the Constitution of RA”). It’s not excluded that during the closed meeting it will be decided to deport Sefilyan. Let’s not even mention, how the NSS knows what was heard during the closed meeting of Sefilyan and his partners. The important thing is not even whether they spoke about applying anti-constitutional methods. Just pay attention to this fact: people were arresting because of making “public announcements” inside a close-door meeting. This means that if you ever dare to speak of your neighbors about the current government and complain about the methods they apply or if you say that the incumbents must be “shot”, then you will be arrested because you have mentioned something that threats national security. So, dear friends, be careful and even in your apartments in the presence of your mothers-in-law don’t dare to complain about the incumbents, otherwise you will be arrested and punished.
P.S. Yesterday evening the “Heritage” party has also made an announcement, which reads, “the coordinator of the “Protection of Liberated Lands” NGO Zhirayr Sefilyan and his friends were arrested without any grounds and evidence. This is perhaps the bright expression of the imagination of the incumbent government about democracy. The “Heritage” party is deeply concerned and convicts such illegal actions, which are aimed to create an environment of fear closer to elections.”