SELF-DETERMINATION ORGANIZATION MEMBERS ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN US

PanARMENIAN.Net - Four representatives of Shirak's local department of "Self-Determination" Organization (SDO) arranged a picket at the US embassy in Armenia with a request for political asylum in the US, the reason for their protest being the verdict of the appeal court to deprive the SDO of the office in Gyumri. In the words of the action participants, the official basis for the "Self-Determination" Gyumri office closing was the absence of the agreement attested by the notary. Meanwhile, in their opinion, there exists a number of factors, in accordance to which, the building should remain theirs. SDO leader Paruyr Hayrikian told Arminfo agency that he himself was against such "extreme measures" undertaken by his party fellows, as it contradicts the principles of the party. To note, the picketers' demand to meet with one of the officials of the embassy was futile, for a written statement should have been produced in advance. One of the embassy's employees elucidated to the action participants that the embassy is not dealing with providing political asylum and advised them to appeal to the UN representative office.