Opposition Urges Armenian Public to Donate 6 Hours to Democracy

Meeting with journalists today, Armenian National Congress (HAK) coordinator Levon Zurabyan made two announcements.

First, he called on journalists to join in solidarity in defense of imprisoned journalist Nikol Pashinyan’s rights.

“That which is taking place today is infamy on the part of the regime and it is free speech that they are afraid of,” he said.

Second, he turned his attention to the EU–Armenia Civil Society Seminar set to take place in Yerevan on Nov. 9, saying that it will take place at Yerevan Hotel. He also urged “all those who can donate six hours [of their time] to democracy and the fight for political prisoners’ release” to participate in the HAK-organized demonstration that day.

Note that the EU-Armenia Civil Society Seminar on the Right to a Fair Trial and Independence of the Judiciary will be held in Yerevan on Nov. 9–10, 2010. The aim of the seminar, organized by the European Commission, is to contribute to the existing official EU- Armenia human rights dialogue by creating a space for constructive discussions between academics and members of civil society from both Armenia and the EU with the aim of feeding the agenda of the official human rights dialogue with their knowledge and views.