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DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(July 1, 2008)

DemocracyAlert: Young Armenian Human Rights Activist Assaulted

According to several Armenian NGOs, on June 25, Narek Hovakimyan, a member of Armenia's pro-democracy youth movement Hima, was attacked and beaten in downtown Yerevan.  As he was leaving school, Hovakimyan, a 19-year old freshman at Yerevan State University, was approached by an unknown young man, and asked to have a conversation outside the campus.   Hovakimyan tried to walk away, but the man followed him.  He was beaten, and suffered head and stomach injuries.  As the assailant fled the scene, Hovakimyan received assistance from bystanders, and was taken to the emergency care unit.

The attack against Hovakimyan is the latest in a series of similar attacks against leaders and activists of Armenia's human rights and pro-democracy community before and after the country's controversial presidential election.  On November 15, 2007, Narek Galstyan, leader of the youth wing of the opposition Social- Democratic Hnchakyan Party, was beaten by a group of unknown assailants.  On May 22, 2008, World Movement participant and head of the Armenian Helsinki Association, Mikael Danielyan was shot by a member of parliament from the ruling Republican party.  On May 28, Arsen Kharatyan, a leading member of the Armenian democratic youth movement, was brutally assaulted and beaten in broad daylight in Yerevan by a group of unknown assailants.  None of these incidents have been properly investigated, and no one has been charged in connection with the assaults.

The Helsinki Association, the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee, the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office, Huys, Lawyers for Human Rights, the National Citizens' Initiative, the Rights and Freedom Center, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center, and Zartonk-89 strongly condemn the attack against Narek Hovakimyan and urge Armenian law enforcement to ensure its proper investigation.  They also call upon the international human rights community to continue to bring attention to Armenia's critical human rights situation.  

To read the statement regarding Narek Hovakimyan’s assault, go to: http://bekaisa.livejournal.com/425297.html

To read a previous alert regarding Mikael Danielyan’s assault, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/june08.html#1