Please email these PACE representatives before their visit to Armenia on Monday
Email to the PACE representatives (in Armenia June 16-7) and US House Representative (meeting June 18th):
coepa.del@parliament.uk,
gcolombier@assemblee-nationale.fr,
howard.berman@mail.house.gov
Dear Sirs,
On June 16-7 the PACE co-rapporteurs will be meeting with top Armenian officials as well as the wives and lawyers of political prisoners. Please let them know that the Armenian regime has to help its people and that the detention and oppression of individuals who would truly help to move the country forward is unacceptable.
The West cannot continue to subsidize a corrupt oligarchy that has murdered 10 and jailed 100s of its democratic, forward-thinking activists in the wake of its Soviet-style 'elections'. Please take action to demand that the Armenian regime release peaceful, democratic citizens.
Ashot Manukyan from the northern city of Vanadzor is one of those citizens currently detained. Mr. Manukyan has spent his life fighting corruption and human rights violations. He is exactly the type of person the U.S. and Europe spend a considerable amount of time and effort to see succeed in Armenia and exactly the type this regime has continued to oppress.
Europe and the United States must demand more from this Armenian regime. At the least, the United States cannot let ordinary, brave citizens like Ashot Manukyan be abducted, beaten and illegally prosecuted by a government that continues to heartlessly pillage its own people. Persons jailed for simply demanding an honest government must be freed immediately.