NAGORNO-KARABAKH:

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ARKADY GHUKASIAN ABOUT CONVICTION OF VAHRAM AGHAJANIAN

On 26 June, the IHF sent the following letter to the President of Nagorno-Karabakh with the request to review the case of the journalist Vahram Aghajanian. The text of the letter follows.

Your Excellency,

I am writing on behalf of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, which represents 39 independent Helsinki Committees and cooperating organizations throughout the OSCE region, to express our deep concern about the arrest and conviction of Vahram Aghajanian.

I have had an opportunity to visit Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia recently and to discuss this issue with Mr. Aghajanian, with your Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as well as with the President and Foreign Minister of Armenia.

We believe that the authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh violated Mr. Aghajanian’s rights and their own laws in this process. In view of the major irregularities surrounding the arrest and trial, we question the legitimacy of his conviction. We believe the matter should be re-examined by your government in order to ensure that justice is done and that the integrity of your administration be upheld.

As we emphasized to officials and members of civil society in Nagorno-Karabakh, this unfortunate incident has called into question the freedom of citizens there to express their views and to contribute to public dialogue without fear that, should their views contradict those of the authorities, they may face legal retribution.

Mr. President, we have been encouraged by the commitment to human rights and democratic procedures affirmed by the members of your government during our visit. We do believe that a review of this case would demonstrate this commitment in concrete terms.

I appreciate your attention to our concerns. I am sending copies of this letter to President Kocharian, Foreign Minister Oskanian, and to Mr. Aghajanian.

Yours sincerely,

Aaron Rhodes

Source: IHF

For more information please contact Petra Winter, IHF Associate Legal Council, tel. +43-1-408 8822, e-mail: winter@ihf-hr.org