MEPs urge Armenian government to refrain from use of disproportionate force

A group of members of the European Parliament on Tuesday issued a statement urging the Armenian authorities to refrain from any use of disproportionate force against protesters in Armenia. Below is the full statement posted by the Tavush for the Homeland movement on Facebook.

“We join the group of international NGOs, including Transparency International and express our concern over the methods and pace of border delimitation and demarcation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, taking place in the Tavush region of Armenia.

Unfortunately, it is evident that the border demarcation and delimitation are carried out under the threat of aggression against the Republic of Armenia, which undermines the legality of the process. Sustainable and lasting peace can only be achieved in the absence of threat and force.

We are aware of the fact that the ongoing protest movement led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan reflects this existential concern of citizens from various layers of the Armenian society. We thus call on the Armenian Government to refrain from any use of disproportionate force