Members of an Opposition Movement Detained in Yerevan

The Armenian law enforcement has begun searches in the offices of “Founding Parliament” initiative in Yerevan and Vanadzor, as well as the houses of its members; “Founding Parliament” coordinator Jirayr Sefilian, his brother, Toros Sefilian, members of the initiative Pavel Manukyan and Varujhan Avetisyan, have been detained. 

According to a statement issued by the “Founding Parliament,” about two dozen law enforcement representatives arrived at the office of the initiative around 6:35 AM on Tuesday, April 7, introducing themselves as officers of the RA National Security Service, Special Investigative Committee, and Police, headed by RA Investigative Committee Chief investigator Roman Sardaryan. 

The law enforcement officers demanded to conduct a search at the office, without presenting a search warrant to the attorney who had arrived at the scene, and prohibiting him, as well as a representative of the initiative from entering the building. Meanwhile, the initiative's statement reported that searches have also begun at the houses of “Founding Parliament” members Jirayr Sefilian (pictured), Karo Yeghnukyan, and Varujhan Avetisyan. 

In an official statement issued by the RA Investigative Committee on Tuesday it is said that “the RA National Security Service and Special Investigative Committee have joined forces to prevent mass disorders at the public event locations on April 24, 2015.”

“As a result of measures undertaken, it has become clear that a group of individuals, taking into consideration the real likelihood of large gatherings at the locations of public events organized on the territory of the Republic of Armenia on April 24, 2015 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, has been calling on the people to not obey that day the requirements of the authorities, and, if necessary, to use violence, to resort to power struggle.

Not only is the intention to use the public events on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in their own narrow interests, to put it mildly, far from the boundaries of morality, but such actions also contain signs of crime preparation with the purpose of creating mass civil unrest. Therefore, the Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case pursuant to Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code (organization of mass disorder, accompanied with violence, pogroms, arson, destruction or damage to property, using fire-arms, explosives or explosive devices, or by armed resistance to the representative of the authorities). An investigation is currently underway,” the statement said. 

The official body has also confirmed that the law enforcement has been conducting searches at the houses of the “Founding Parliament” members.