Armen Ashotyan accuses European institutions of 'moral bankruptcy' at protest outside Armenian parliament

Armenian opposition politician Armen Ashotyan on Thursday accused European institutions of “moral bankruptcy”, saying they have failed to defend the democratic values they promote in Armenia, as members of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) staged a protest outside the National Assembly.

Speaking at the demonstration, organized to coincide with a visit by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty, Ashotyan said European bodies had become “blind, deaf and mute” when confronted with political repression in Armenia and the detention of Armenians in Azerbaijani prisons.

“Twenty-five years ago, Armenia joined the Council of Europe with the hope that the difficult path of European integration would bring dignity, freedom, equality and prosperity,” said Ashotyan, the RPA deputy chairman. “Twenty-five years later, we state that this has turned out to be an illusion – false and cynical.”

The protest was held in support of all political prisoners in Armenia and Armenians imprisoned in Baku. Armenia joined the Council of Europe in 2001.

Ashotyan criticized a recent statement by Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan, who said that if international organizations had not documented the existence of political prisoners, then none exist in Armenia.

“The Armenian people do not need any international institution to determine whether their best sons are imprisoned for political reasons,” Ashotyan said. “The exclusive right to recognize political prisoners belongs to the Armenian people, and this is reflected in public opinion surveys.”

He also sharply criticized the latest annual report by Human Rights Watch, calling it “a disgrace” for failing to mention Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons on political or ethnic grounds.

“Are there Armenians imprisoned in Baku? Of course there are,” Ashotyan said. “Do we need such reports to understand this reality? No, we do not.”

Ashotyan further called attention to the Armenian government’s campaign against the Armenian Apostolic Church, highlighting the detention of senior clergymen.

“The Armenian people need no one to restore their dignity or to chart the future of their country,” he added.