Welfare & Lavoro
Ukraine: Peaceful protests in memory of Armenian violence
Last week human rights activists gathered outside Kievs Armenian Embassy to remember the victims of the violent demonstrations that took place during the Armenian presidential elections
Last week human rights activists gathered outside Kiev?s Armenian Embassy to remember the victims of the violent demonstrations that took place at Yerevan, Armenia, during the presidential elections and that claimed the lives of 8 civilians.
The meeting of remembrance was organized by the representatives of the World Youth Movement for Democracy and was supported by the Armenian human rights defenders and members of the Youth Human Rights Movement Ukraine. It was held exactly 40 days after the presidential elections.
The participants didn't make any political demands. They held out white linen sheets decorated with pink and black ribbons and lit candles. «We have nothing to say, everything has already been said. We don't understand what can be celebrated today», says Anastasia Nikitina, member of the WYMD work committee andYHRM participant. Young people laid wreathes.
About 30 people took part in the action and came from Armenia, Serbia, Great Britain, Belarus, Georgia, Norway, USA, Russia and Ukraine to do so.
The participants distributed leaflets in English, Russian and Ukrainian: «What is being celebrated at Serzh?» – was written on them – «40 days ago in Yerevan 8 people were killed, more then 100 were arrested during the election of 1 president».
«Yesterday at the working meeting of WYMD representatives and the Armenian Helsinki Association a presentation about the developments in Armenia following the presidential elections and the breaking up of peaceful protest actions was made. It was then that we decided to make some kind of action», says Dmitry Makarov, member of the YHRM. He pointed out that: «It was important to make action on this day – the Day of youth activities for Human Rights – to protest against the inadmissible treatment of the situation and the cynicism that has characterised the Armenian elections. Even now, 40 days after the tragedy, the government and forces of law have made no move to investigate the crimes against innocent people, many of whom are still in prison».
The actions in memory also took place in Armenia and Moscow.
Photos from action:
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