Yesterday, on August 1, 2016, at the meeting with the representatives of the public, authorities and the clergy RA President Serzh Sargsyan in his speech on the situation resulted by the capture of the RA Police Patrol-Guard Service regiment by “Sasna Tsrer” armed group, apologized to the journalists who had been subjected to violence and whose legitimate professional activities had been impeded by the law enforcement bodies during the dispersal of the protest actions in Sari Tagh district and Khorenatsi street of Yerevan on July 29, 2016.

Taking into account this fact, we, the undersigned, call Serzh Sargsyan’s attention to the fact that during the above-mentioned events Yeghishe Petrosyan, Founder of “Ardzagank” Radio, was groundlessly detained. Due to deterioration of his health condition Yeghishe Petrosyan is currently in Malatya “Astghik” Medical Center under the surveillance of not only doctors, but also policemen. The suspicion of his having incited mass disturbances sounds simply absurd to all those who know Yeghishe.

Thus, as an urgent step to rectify the situation we demand from the RA President to take the necessary measures for the immediate release of Yeghishe Petrosyan.

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
YEREVAN PRESS CLUB
MEDIA INITIATIVES CENTER
“ASPAREZ” JOURNALISTS’ CLUB
MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE-ARMENIA
PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB
“JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE”
“JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS”
GORIS PRESS CLUB
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER
“INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS”
“REGION” RESEARCH CENTER