Open Letter from the Wives, Mothers, and Sisters of Victims of Political Persecution

Open Letter from the Wives, Mothers, and Sisters of Victims of Political Persecution
in Connection with the 2008 Armenian Presidential Election

May 16, 2008

We are writing this letter as the wives, mothers, and sisters of those citizens of the Republic of Armenia who have been subjected to unlawful measures by the authorities in connection with the February 19, 2008 presidential election. We wish to express our gratitude to the international community, in particular the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Council of Europe Commissioner of Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, the United States Helsinki Commission, and other intergovernmental agencies and political and human rights entities who have supported our lawful demand for the immediate release from detention of our family members and the dropping of all criminal charges against them. At the same time, however, we note with alarm that the government of Armenia has failed thus far to take significant steps in compliance with these just demands.

As we noted in our first open letter dated March 18, 2008, the arrests our family members have been purely political in nature, given that the detainees are members of political parties and supporters of the democratic opposition in Armenia. In the nearly two months since we sent out that letter, much has changed in the evaluation of the events in Armenia on the part of the international community, resulting in increasingly just and factual reports and calls upon the government to comply with both Armenian law and international obligations. In the same period, we women of Armenia have come together in a united movement for the recognition of our rights and for democratic freedoms in our country. What began as a group of some 200 family members of the detainees has grown into a democratic force that includes many thousands of supporters throughout the country engaged in a mounting campaign of lawful demonstrations and other political and human rights actions.

These welcome developments, however, have as yet failed to touch the Armenian government, whose methods of authoritarian repression have only grown more pronounced. Despite some decorative rhetoric and the establishment of several Soviet-style commissions, the regime has continued to wage a campaign of political persecution against the pro-democracy movement, including the detention of participants of daily “political walks” and other lawful protest actions, and harassment, arrest, and fabrication of false charges against supporters and associates of the democratic opposition. One particularly unjust and worrisome case of political persecution that we wish to call attention to concerns the arrest of the young widow and mother-of-three Anush Ghavalyan, a waitress who is being held on charges of tax evasion. As regards our own family members, several have been released pending trial, others have been unjustly tried and sentenced, and the majority have had their pre-trial detentions extended, in the absence of legal grounds or any clear movement on their cases.

We are deeply concerned by the failure of the government thus far to respond in a concrete and meaningful way to the just demands of the Armenian people and the international community, including the release of all political prisoners and the restoration of political freedoms, among them the right to assembly and the guarantee of free and independent media.

The current crisis in Armenia represents an important historic test, both for the citizens of Armenia and for the international governments and institutions that have supported Armenia on the path our country chose when it became independent, that of democracy and the rule of law.

We welcome the willingness that the international community has displayed to reassess its understanding of the events in Armenia, and call upon governments and institutions to recognize the need for new and innovative approaches in order to resolve the current crisis, and to join us in working to reestablish the foundations of a strong and democratic Armenia.

With respect and in hope of support,


Knarik Abrahamyan
Wife of Hakob Hakobyan, National Assembly Deputy, chairman of the Spirit Challenge NGO, arrested on March 3, 2008.

Hripsime Adamyan
Wife of Gevorg Gevorgyan, Armenian national Movement board member, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Aragatsotn Campaign Headquarters, in hiding since March 1.

Anzhela Alaverdyan
Wife of Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Republic Party member, head of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers Arabkir chapter, arrested on February 26, 2008.

Syuzan Aleksanyan
Wife of Mikayel Hayrapetyan, Chairman of the Conservative Party, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Lilit Amirkhanyan
Wife of Simon Amirkhanyan, member of the Armenian National Movement, proxy for Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrested on April 11, 2008.

Zhulietta Antonyan
Mother of Gurgen Mikaelyan, proxy for Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrested on March 2, 2008.

Karine Asaturovna
Mother of Kristofer Elazyan, former police officer (refused to provide false testimony against an activist), arrested on March 3, 2008.

Ruzan Avdalyan
Wife of Isahak Malkhasyan, brother of Myasnik Malkhasyan (National Assembly Deputy, deputy chairman of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans), arrested on March 3, 2008

Tamara Avetisyan
Wife of Mkrtich Sapeyan, head of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers, arrested on January 29, 2008.

Anahid Ayvazi
Wife of Vartgez Gaspari, Aylantrank Civil Initiative member, proxy for Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Gohar Ayvazyan
Wife of Marzpetuni Ayvazyan, Republic Party member, arrested on January 29, 2008.

Irina Baghdasaryan
Wife of Tigran Baghdasaryan, Armenian National Movement member, Levon Ter-Petrossian Arabkir Campaign Headquarters member, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Mariam Baghdasaryan
Wife of Husik Baghdasaryan, Republic Party member, arrested on February 26, 2008.

Melissa Brown
Wife of Alexander Arzoumanian, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Representative to the United Nations, founder of the Civil Disobedience Movement, director of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Central Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 10, 2008.

Anzhela Folyan
Wife of Avetik Nercisyan, Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers member, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Karine Gevorgyan
Mother of Albert Nercisyan, activist, arrested on March 7, 2008.

Sona Galoyan
Wife of Vardan Ghavalbabunts, proxy for Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrested on March 16, 2008.

Anahit Grigoryan
Wife of Vladimir Arakelyan, Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers member, arrested on March 3, 2008.

Zhaneta Grigoryan
Wife of Samvel Karapetyan, member of the People’s Party of Armenia, proxy for Levon Ter-Petrossian, arrested on April 11, 2008.

Adelaida Hakobyan
Wife of Petros Makeyan, Chairman of the Democratic Fatherland Party, arrested on February 25, 2008.

Anna Hakobyan
Wife of Nikol Pashinyan, Editor-in Chief of Haykakan Zhamanak, representative of the Aylantrank Civil Initiative, member of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Central Campaign Headquarters, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Gayane Harutyunyan
Wife of Shota Saghatelyan, Republic Party member, arrested on February 26, 2008.

Marine Harutyunyan
Wife of Grigor Voskerchyan, former deputy head of the National Security Service, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Abovyan Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 8, 2008.

Lusine Hayrapetyan
Wife of Suren Surenyants, Republic Party board member, arrested on February 25, 2008.

Seda Hovakimyan
Mother of Andranik Hovakimyan, Deputy Chairman of the Armenian National Movement, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Khanum Hovhanissyan
Wife of Misak Hovakimyan, activist, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Marine Jhangiryan
Wife of Vardan Jhangiryan, head of the Electricity Network of the Kotayk and Gegharkunik Provinces, arrested on February 23, 2008.

Mariam Karapetyan
Mother of Karapet Rubinyan, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, former Chief of Staff of the President, deputy head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Shengavit District Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008

Knarik Khachatryan
Wife of Arshak Banuchyan, Deputy Director of the Matenadaran, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 24, 2008.

Anahit Kirakosyan
Wife of Ashot Manukyan, head of the Armenian National Movement Lori chapter, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Lori Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Olga Loretsyan
Wife of Harutyun Urutyan, head of the Armenian National Movement Maralik chapter, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Maralik Campaign Headquarters, arrested in February 25, 2008.

Anna Malkhasyan
Wife of Myasnik Malkhasyan, National Assembly Deputy, deputy chairman of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans, arrested on March 3, 2008.

Gohar Manukyan
Wife of Hayk Gevorgyan, member of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Talin Campaign headquarters, arrested on January 29, 2008.

Knarik Manukyan
Wife of Zhora Sapeyan, head of the Republic Party Talin chapter, arrested on February 29, 2008.

Knarik Melkonyan
Wife of Never Sargsyan, activist, arrested on March 7, 2008.

Anush Mesropyan
Wife of Sasun Mikaelyan, National Assembly Deputy, member of the Spirit Challenge NGO, arrested on March 12, 2008.

Susanna Mkhitaryan
Wife of Vesmir Mkhitaryan, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Vardenis Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Irina Mkrtchyan
Sister of Aghasi Mkrtchyan, member of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Vayk Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Nelli Mnatsakanyan
Wife of Grigor Harutyunyan, political secretary of the People’s Party of Armenia, in hiding since March 1, 2008.


Gayane Nersisyan
Wife of Suren Sirunyan, Armenian National Movement member, arrested on March 9, 2008

Anush Petrosyan
Wife of Masis Ayvazyan, Armenian National Movement board member, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Tamara Piloyan
Wife of Mushegh Saghatelyan, member of the Spirit Challenge NGO, former head of the Interior Ministry Detention Center Department, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Ani Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Arevik Poghosyan
Wife of Khachik Gasparyan, Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers member, arrested on March 1, 2008

Marine Poghosyan
Wife of Aram Sargsyan, Chairman of the Republic Party, member of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Central Campaign Headquarters, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Sirvart Poghosyan
Wife of Artak Hovsepyan, member of the Yerkrapah Union of Veterans, arrested on March 11, 2008.

Dzovinar Samsonyan
Wife of Hovhannes Ghazaryan, Armenian National Movement board member, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Aida Sardaryan
Wife of Aram Manukyan, Armenian National Movement board member, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Arabkir District Campaign Headquarters, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Ruzanna Sargsyan
Wife of Smbat Ayvazyan, Republic Party board member, former Minister of State Income, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on February 24, 2008.

Susanna Sargsyan
Wife of Davit Matevosyan, former Meghri Police Chief, member of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Central Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Laura Selvyan
Wife of Gagik Jhangiryan, former Deputy Prosecutor General, former Military Prosecutor, arrested on February 23, 2008.

Astghik Shahinyan
Sister of Armen Shahinyan, activist, arrested on March 3, 2008.

Lilit Simonyan
Wife of Levik Khachatryan, Armenian National Movement board member, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Lyuda Simonyan
Wife of Khachik Simonyan, head of the Republic Party Yerghvard chapter, arrested on March 6, 2008.

Nvart Simonyan
Wife of Karen Tarkhanyan, activist, arrested on March 4, 2008.

Hasmik Sinanyan
Wife of Vahagn Hayotsyan, Armenian National Movement executive secretary, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Garunik Soghomonyan
Wife of Aram Bareghamyan, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Hrazdan Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 9, 2008.

Ruzanna Sukiasyan
Wife of Khachatur Sukiasyan, National Assembly Deputy, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Yerevan Campaign Headquarters, in hiding since March 1, 2008.

Tamara Tapaltsyan
Mother of Aram Karapetyan, Chairman of the New Times Party, arrested on February 24, 2008.

Inga Torosyan
Wife of Davit Arakelyan, head of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Kentron District Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 1, 2008.

Lusine Vardanyan
Wife of Samvel Abovyan, activist, arrested on March 9, 2008

Narine Yeghiazaryan
Sister of Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, former deputy head of the National Security Service, arrested on March 3, 2008.

Edita Yeghoyan
Wife of Ararat Zurabyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Movement, former Head of the Kentron District Administration, member of the Levon Ter-Petrossian Central Campaign Headquarters, arrested on March 10, 2008.

Anahit Zakaryan
Wife of Ashot Zakaryan, head of the Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers Gyumri chapter, arrested on February 25, 2008.

Tsoghik Zakaryan
Wife of Yerjanik Abgaryan, Armenian National Movement board member, former head of RA Customs Service, Levon Ter-Petrossian Campaign Headquarters regional coordinator, arrested on March 3, 2008.