About an attemtion of arson on Shirak branch office of the A.D.Sakharov human rights protecting center

On July 6, 2011, in the morning at about 5 o’clock, some unknown persons broke the glass through metal bars Shirak branch Gyumri office window of the A.D.Sakharov Center for human rights protection in Armenia, and ignited the window and window path with liquid fuel. People living near the office saw the fire and called the fire service, they took their own measures to extinguish a fire after which the fire was extinguished. It was found out that significantly damaged some of the property of the office training hall and the hall as a whole, the repair cost of which exceeds 600,000 drams.

We all, undersigned organizations representatives of civil society express concern over the attack and arson connected to this, we condemn this attack and sauce of makers and implementers, noting that this is not the first time, when these methods are used for trying to intimidate or punish human rights protection defenders and non-governmental organization.
The police must make every effort to discover the direct doers and the men who ordered this crime, to ensure adequate publicity about the process of the case as soon as possible.

We urge the authorities to condemn such violence and to assist the Sakharov human rights organization and the office in Gyumri to continue its normal activity.

Hope that Sakharov human rights organization and the office in Gyumri will quickly overcome temporary difficulties, remaining so consistently in protection of human rights, as they have been for 15 years.

Journalists’ Club “Asparez”

“Shirak Centre” NGO

“Biosophia” NGO

“We Plus” Social NGO

“Khoran Ard” NGO

“Unison” NGO

“Arena of Education” NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office,

“Rights Information Center” NGO

“Arevamanuk” Center for Children and adolescents care

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Yerevan Press Club

Community Initiatives and Advocacy Center NGO

“Victims of state needs” NGO

Transparency international anticorruption center

“Meghvik” NGO

Open Society Foundations-Armenia

“Full Life” NGO

Civil Society Institute NGO

“European integration” NGO

“Sacred land” BNGO

“Arax Center” BNGO

“Ani” disabled children NGO

Children society youth initiatives support center NGO

“Flora” Christian association of young women, NGO

“Azatan” community center of Azatan

“Million and half +1 Armenia Diaspora” Shirak Branch

“Agat” NGO, for women with special needs

“Likidon” art and moral-psicological development NGO

“Ajakic” NGO

“Leadership” NGO                                                                                                                                          “Health Center’’ rehabilitation NGO

“Aren” NGO

“Geofon” NGO

Gyumri young family supporting “Noyemi” NGO

“Gyumri development foundation” NGO

“Women developing center” NGO

“Gyumri Union of disabled people” NGO

“Guarantee” NGO

“Third Nature” NGO

“Fallen soldiers’ family” NGO

“Stability and progress” NGO

“Consultant” NGO

“Women for the future” NGO

“Women for the development” NGO

“Community Development and Social Support Center” NGO

“Armenian Karitas”

Armenia invalids “Pyunik” union Shirak branch NGO

“Meghvik” community development foundation NGO

“New generation” NGO

“Sirarpeni” NGO

“Gyumri progress” civil society development center

“Experimental cultural center” cultural analysis and development NGO

Goris Journalists’ club “Radius”

“Association of Women with University Education”  NGO

“Aarhus center of Dilijan”

Ecotourism Association

“Protection of consumers’ rights” NGO

Helsinki Committee of Armenia