Civilnet
Zhirayr Sefilyan.
The civic initiative Founding Parliament - The Centenary Without the Regime issued an announcement on April 7 stating that members of their organization, including Zhirayr Sefilyan had been detained by law-enforcement officials. Others detained include Sefilyan’s brohter Toros Sefilyan, Pavel Manukyan and Varuzhan Avetisyan.
In the early morning hours, the homes of Sefilyan, Avetisyan and Garo Yeghnukyan were searched by the police. Searches were also conducted in the home of Hovhannes Ghazaryan of the organization’s Vanadzor office. Ghazaryan was also detained.
The Special Investigatory Service of Armenia also issued a statement later in the morning. "As a result of joint measures by Armenia's National Security Service and the Investigatory Committee, the mass riots planned to take place at the venues for the April 24 events have been prevented,” the statement read. “As a result of the investigation and subsequent searches, it has become clear that a group of individuals, taking into consideration that large groups of people will gather during the numerous public events planned for the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, will be calling on people to not comply with directives issued by the regime and if and when necessary to resort to violence.”
CivilNet’s reporter is presently at the offices of the Founding Parliament and has said that the search by law-enforcement bodies that began at 7:00 A.M. is continuing. Vardan Hakobyan, a member of Founding Parliament told CivilNet that such actions by security forces will not prevent a rise of mass protests but rather would contribute to their realization. He added that “they will not be able to contain the call to take to the streets.”
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