Human Rights Defender Representatives Head to Sisian

The announcement from the Human Rights Defender states: The head of the "Armenia" alliance's headquarters has lodged a complaint with the RA Human Rights Defender regarding the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction's issuance of a permit for searches, without any justification, which has led to illegal actions against their headquarters leaders in Sisian, Syunik Province.

According to the complaint, the purpose cited for the court's permit is to discover ballot printing machines, ballots, and other materials related to the electoral process. Specifically, the complaint raises the issue that instead of conducting investigative actions on the spot against four members of their "Armenia" alliance, law enforcement agencies wish to abduct them to Yerevan for a specific purpose. This implies that on the day of voting, they will no longer have the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, thereby completely dissolving the activities of their headquarters in Sisian.

In response to this complaint, representatives of the Human Rights Defender have traveled to Sisian. They will verify all circumstances related to the mentioned complaint and seek clarifications regarding the strong justifications for conducting separate investigative or other procedural actions in Yerevan, especially considering the duration of the voting day and the time spent transporting representatives from the headquarters to Yerevan for investigative actions. At this time, the Human Rights Defender deems it necessary to record that the legal standard should be that the police or other law enforcement agencies should carry out their actions primarily in a manner that prevents any obstacles to the activities of political forces involved in the electoral process, especially on the day of voting.