ARF sounds alarm: Armenian authorities target opposition donors

ArmInfo. The current government of Armenia, which is in a crisis of legitimacy, has taken legal permissiveness towards political opponents to a new level,  mercilessly using the law enforcement system to achieve its goals, as  noted  in a statement issued by the Supreme Body of the ARF  Dashnaktsutyun

"Not content with illegal wiretapping, arrests, detentions, and  numerous illegal criminal prosecutions, the law enforcement agencies  have moved on to persecuting individuals who have donated to  opposition parties. In particular, for a long time now, the  investigative body has been illegally detaining and illegally  “interrogating” ARF members and supporters, simply citizens who have  made donations to the party in accordance with the requirements  established by law. This is despite the fact that numerous undeniable  facts disseminated in the press testify to the realities of the  “Civil Contract” party receiving illegal income and completely and  impermissibly using administrative resources in the elections for its  own party interests. As was predictable, in this case, law  enforcement and other competent bodies are silent.  Assessing all of  this as a violation of Articles 8 and 46 of the Constitution of the  Republic of Armenia, as well as a clear attempt to undermine the  foundations of democracy," the ARF Supreme Body's statement reads.

"We demand that international organizations and observation missions  provide an adequate, impartial assessment of such practices of the  ruling regime.  We demand that law enforcement agencies immediately  return to the realm of legality, upholding the requirements of the  Constitution and the Constitutional Law "On Political Parties." We  draw the public's attention to the political authorities'  monopolistic neo-Bolshevism and electoral corruption at the state  level.  We declare that the many thousands of members, sympathizers,  and supporters of the ARF will not retreat before the illegalities of  the punitive machine, will not be afraid of fabricated  interrogations, and will resolutely continue the struggle against the  current regime for the sake of a legal, democratic, and secure  Armenia," the ARF Supreme Body emphasized.