Yesterday the wives of political prisoners gathered near the general prosecutor’s office to demand the release of the other political prisoners. Since April 7, 2008 the mothers, sisters and wives of political prisoners and the supporters of the ANM have been expressing their complaints with such actions against the violence and fake cases against their husbands, brothers, fathers and sons.
Yesterday’s demonstration differed from the past ones with the fact that the released political prisoners were with them too. Alexander Arzumanyan, Christapor Elazyan and others were with them too. “My friends continue to be political hostages in the hands of this hostile regime and I must do my best to have them released as soon as possible. It is my duty. I must take part in all events. I must be here too. Nothing can make me give up. Nothing in the world can make me give up and stop my struggle in favor of my freedoms,” said Alexander Arzumanyan. On Monday Mr Arzumanyan was released and refused to comment and say anything concerning the inner political developments. He made some short comments concerning the amnesty granted by the authorities and their future struggle. “This amnesty does not solve the problem. Since there is even one political prisoner in Armenia, the country has a sick society. This is the bad of our country and should get rid of it. Since there is even one political prisoner in Armenia I feel shame for our country,” said Mr Arzumanyan. Why did not the authorities declare a wider amnesty, as a result of which all political prisoners would be set free? This amnesty was granted after the presidential election 2008 to release the political prisoners and it was done by the demand of the Council of Europe. In answer to this question the ex foreign minister said, “As this is a hostile regime, they are using every opportunity to release one person and keep the others. Thus if they have a small opportunity to keep someone for several more days they do their best not to miss this opportunity. This is a hostile regime for the people.” He said that he would do his best to make his friends be released. Is it possible to do in the tenure of this political regime, during which they were arrested, sentenced to imprisonment and then released as a result of amnesty? “I don’t care about these authorities. I will take part in all legal actions; I will apply to the courts, and eventually to the ombudsman and the European court. My friends and I will prove that we have not done any illegal actions, and we will do it with all methods and institutions that we can reach,” said Arzumanyan.
Several days ago the ANC coordinator Levon Zurabyan said that the released political prisoners had announced about their intention to continue the struggle and keep with the ANC, and they would strengthen the ANC and their involvement might bring to new changes in the structure. “Certainly the people who have returned and are active again are very strong people. They are organizers, they are influential people and are backed by a lot of people. It means that the capacity of the opposition is significantly strengthened. However, there should be some period to adapt too,” said L. Zurabyan.
What is Arzumanyan going to do in the future and how will he continue struggling? What will be his role in the Armenian National Congress? “The political prisoners have never been out of the movement. They have continued their struggle in prisons too. Certainly now we will be free and will have a real participation. Everyone should decide what the participation format and roles will be,” said Arzumanyan.
Even though Arzumanyan is free now, his wife Melissa Brown continues to coordinate the demonstrations of the wives of political prisoners against the general prosecutor’s office. She is rather decisive too and will go on till all the political prisoners are released. “There are still many political prisoners whose wives have been with us all this time. Aram Bareghamyan, Ashot Manukyan, Harutyun Urutyan, Sasun and the others who are in cells. We will not give up till the last political prisoner is set free,” said Mrs Brown.