Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

We, the undersigned civil society members of Armenia strongly believe that Belarusian citizens should be free to exercise their rights:

📌to change their government through free and democratic elections based on OSCE standards

📌to protest freely and peacefully against violations of their electoral and human rights and for their protection

📌to not be subjected to violence, arbitrary arrest, or detention

📌to have full access to information and media

We condemn the pre-election persecutions of political opponents and their supporters; violations during early voting and election day as reported by citizen observers, including arbitrary detention of observers and obstruction of their work; falsification of results; the post-election arrests, as well as disproportionate and unjustified use of force by the police that cost at least one life and left several people injured. 

Armenia’s democracy and development were brutally suspended with several rigged elections. A similar violation of the people’s vote in 2008 and violent suppression of public discontent resulted in massive state capture, escalated impunity, corruption, and systemic abuse of human rights. Only through a revolution in 2018, were the Armenian people able to restore justice, yet even until today, two years after we are struggling with the remnants of that violence and corruption․

Hence, in full solidarity with the Belarusian people, we commend their strong will, resilience, and readiness to stand up for their legitimate right to elect their own government, to restore their dignity, rights, and justice.

We call upon the acting President of Belarus 

📌to ensure an independent recount of votes and audit of the electoral process 

📌to stop persecution of political opposition and peaceful protesters immediately

📌to release all political prisoners 

12 August 2020

_________

Helsinki Citizens Assembly-Vanadzor

Open Society Foundations-Armenia
Asparez Club of Journalists
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

Public Journalism Club

Peace Dialogue NGO

Analytical Centre for Globalization and Regional Cooperation
Union of Informed Citizens
Non-discrimination and Equality Coalition

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO

Veles Human Rights NGO