Protest action dated to the Day of Political Prisoners held in Yerevan

Today in Yerevan, on the Day of Political Prisoners, which for the first time was marked in the former USSR 35 years ago, a protest action was held at the building of the State Public Prosecutor's Office with a demand to release the remaining 17 political prisoners.

The participants of the action - about 40 persons in total - were shouting: "Release political prisoners!", "We demand!", "You'll be sued!", "Free independent Armenia!", "Armenia without Serzh and Robert!", "Struggle, struggle to the end!" Supporters of the opposition held posters "Freedom to political prisoners!", "Freedom!" and portraits of political prisoners Arutyun Urutyan, Sargis Atspanyan, Sasun Mikaelyan, Nikol Pashinyan, Roman Mnatsakyan, Musheg Sagatelyan and others.

In her interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Melissa Brown, wife of the former political prisoner and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanyan, has expressed hope that the protest action will give positive results.

"Our two-year-long struggle has caused a certain effect. We just want to remind everybody that still there are 17 political prisoners, and this issue isn't settled yet. Today is the Day of Soviet Political Prisoners. And it's a shame that we still have 17 political prisoners in independent Armenia," said Ms Brown.

Mikael Danielyan, a well-known human rights activist and Chairman of the Helsinki Association, said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent: "It's difficult to tell whether this protest action will anyhow affect our authorities. Democratic actions bring fruit in democratic countries. It's another action to send another message to the authorities that they should think about what happens."