Ter-Petrosyan must be released, CoE secretary says as outsiders condemn action in Yerevan

"I urge the authorities to use maximum restraint. I am troubled that there are reports of casualties. I urge the authorities to release those detained, and I again call on the government and the opposition to engage in dialogue," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, said.

In meetings with Armenian officials in Yerevan on 26 February, the Minister had said the OSCE was ready to continue helping the country as it attempts to consolidate its democracy and address shortcomings noted by OSCE and other observers during the 19 February presidential election process which the OSCE had graded with high marks .

Terry Davis, Council of Europe Secretary General, also reacted to the violence.

“I am very alarmed by the reports on injured people when security personnel tried to disperse demonstrators…,” he said. “…It is very important to prevent further escalation of violence.”

Davis also said he is very concerned over the reports that former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan is under house arrest. “If it is true, then he must be released immediately,” he said in his statement. “If he stands accused of committing an offense, he must be brought to responsibility like everyone and be convicted by court like everyone. In a democracy there is no detaining political opposition members arbitrarily.”

During a morning press conference while under effective house arrest at his home Ter-Petrosyan told media that the international community must not turn a blind eye on the developments in Armenia.

President Robert Kocharyan had scheduled a press conference for six p.m., but as media gathered, they were met by Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian, who said that the president had asked him to meet journalists, as Kocharyan was busy in negotiations. Radio Liberty has reported that Kocharyan was contemplating whether to impose state of emergency on the capital.

Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said at a press conference a short time ago that perhaps “our international rating has dropped but even in different European countries it is impossible to avoid such violence”.

By ArmeniaNow