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PACE monitors concerned about outbreak of violence during protest in Yerevan

Yerevan / Armenia

“We are deeply concerned by the outbreak of violence during the protest in Yerevan, including attacks on the Parliament and Government buildings and the physical aggression against the President of the National Assembly that left him hospitalised,” said Boriana Åberg (Sweden, EPP/DC) and Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC), monitoring co-rapporteurs for Armenia.

“We understand the sadness, the disappointment and the anger of the Armenian people regarding the latest developments in Nagorno Karabakh, as reflected in the terms of the tri-partite agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. But these feelings should not be allowed turn into violence against one another or against the symbols of the democratic institutions of the Republic of Armenia.”

“Armenians have the right to ask for accountability from their political leadership, but this should be done within the framework of a democratic state that respects the rule of law. Armenia has shown that it is able to overcome immense political hurdles peacefully. That should not be different this time. Armenia should not deviate from the democratic path it has chosen. In these difficult times, this achievement should not be lost or undone by anger or revenge,” they added.