March 1 NGO to Assist Families of March 1 Victims

Today is the third anniversary of the crime of March 1. Not only police, but also the army was brought out against peaceful demonstrators on Mar. 1, 2008; a slaughter took place which resulted in 10 innocent people — our sons — dead, said Alla Hovhannisyan, the mother of March 1 victim Tigran Khachatryan, speaking outside the Matenadaran (Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts) earlier today at the start of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) rally.

“Hereinafter, March 1 has become a day to commemorate innocent victims. Today, on behalf of myself and the victims’ parents, I want to first thank all of you for coming. I would very much like to squeeze each of your hands and express my gratitude, that you’ve come here, that you weren’t afraid of the authorities’ pressures, their persecutions, they haven’t been obstacles for you to get here from the regions, for you to come and, with us, commemorate our martyrs and raise our nationwide voices of protest,” she said.

She noted that it’s been already three years that parents of March 1 victims have been fighting for the details regarding their sons’ deaths to be uncovered.

“Exhausting all state levels, from which we weren’t even waiting for any response, we’ve made it to the European court. I want to inform you that we’ve established a March 1 non-governmental organization. The aim of the organization is to provide legal and social support to the families of March 1 victims and to support those injured from gunshot wounds on Mar. 1. To organize such events that will prevent the possible repeat of Mar. 1 in our country in the future. And the most important event will be our victory and holding the criminals [accountable] before justice. The organization will assist all those citizens and soldiers who have ever suffered at the hands of law enforcement agencies,” she said.

Recall, mass protests against alleged electoral fraud, organized by supporters of unsuccessful presidential candidate, first president of the Republic of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossian, followed the presidential election of Feb. 19, 2008, in Armenia. On Mar. 1, 2008, national police and military forces, called in to disperse the crowds, used “excessive force and violence” which left 10 people dead and many more wounded.