ANNOUNCEMENT
City of Yerevan 09․08․2019
ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT OF “ARTSIV-30 ARARAT” MILITARY-PATRIOTIC NGO, EPREM MARGARYAN’S SPEECH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORGANISATION’S ACTIVITIES
On 6 April 2019, footage was posted on the Internet where the person speaking on behalf of the suicider squad of “ARTSIV-30 ARARAT” stated the following:
“… we promise that we’ll do our best not to let them breathe. Respectful authorities, you can’t imagine how enraged we are with them; don’t turn us into murderers, because if we suddenly finish one of them, don’t come and tell us why everything turned out this way…
…Recently someone has been saying “Long live Soros and his followers”. We’ll bury both you and Soros…
… I shall repeat once again, they must be eliminated and neutralized in our country…”
The above-mentioned speech poses a threat to the safety of LGBT people, organizations and legal advocates engaged in the protection of their rights, incites hatred and advocates violence.
Based on Article 32 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On non-governmental organizations”, New Generation Humanitarian NGO applied to the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia for taking a legal action with the claim for compulsory liquidation, since the Organization has pursued an action aimed at violently overthrowing the constitutional order or inciting hatred or advocating violence or war.
By the Letter received from the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia on 11 July 2019, it was informed that on 8 May 2019, a letter had been addressed to Varazdat Mkrtchyan, the President of “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO, requesting clarifications on a number of issues.
On 2 July 2019, the Letter of the President of “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO was submitted to the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia, according to which Eprem Margaryan, NGO member, appears in the footage, and that his speech has nothing to do with the Organization’s activities.
The State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia found that there is a lack of evidence for any action with regard to incitement of hatred or advocacy of violence by “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO.
Availing itself of the right to become familiar with the materials of the administrative proceedings, New Generation Humanitarian NGO again applied to the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia, requesting to be provided with the clarifications made by “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO.
As a result, on 7 August 2019, the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia provided New Generation Humanitarian NGO with the clarifications made by “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO, where it is clearly stated that:
“ … I hereby inform that Eprem Margaryan’s speech has nothing to do with the organization’s activities. Eprem Margaryan expressed the subjective opinion and position of himself and a group of members of the military-patriotic NGO, and it was aimed at protecting the national values and the traditional Armenian FAMILY.”
Thus, although New Generation Humanitarian NGO has obtained “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO’s official clarification on the footage by legal means, it urges to be more consistent as regards the behavior of the Organization members and the thoughts expressed thereby, bearing in mind that such phenomena affect “Artsiv-30 Ararat” military-patriotic NGO’s business reputation and endanger the rights and freedoms of others.
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