Epress.am News from Armenia
While OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter was meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan inside the presidential palace in Yerevan, a group of people were waiting for him on the opposite side of the street to deliver a letter of thanks.
Demonstrators said the Swiss president is the only one who replied to Armenian citizens' letter expressing their concerns on the existence of political prisoners in Armenia.
"He replied that since Switzerland is one of the countries that supports victims of persecution, they are monitoring the cases of Shant Harutyunyan and the others. And they're doing everything possible. It was a diplomatic response, but, in any case, it was a response," said one of the demonstrators, Felix Hayrapetyan.
As the group was not allowed to approach the president, they decided to show their concerns by holding signs and gave their letter to one of the journalists who arrived with Burkhalter's delegation to forward it to him. The police officers standing outside the Armenian president's residence, however, advised the group to leave the letter at the reception desk. Hayrapetyan said he doubts the letter will reach the person to whom its addressed this way.
The letter read, in part: "We would like to inform you that despite our letters, the Armenian authorities ignore the issue of political prisoners, violate their fundamental freedoms, their right to [freedom of] expression, and dignity. Moreover, persecutions have begun also against Shant Harutyunyan’s son, Shahen Harutyunyan. He is charged with putting pressure on his father. Though the issue does not directly concern you, and Armenia is a grain [of sand] in the international arena, we are writing to you because you are one of the few politicians who dares to speak up."
Inscription on the poster reads "The freedom of all of us begins with the freedom of political prisoners"