Freedom House "disturbed" by protest violence in Armenia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Freedom House is "disturbed" by violence taking place during protests targeting journalists, public figures, and ordinary citizens in Armenia, the organization said Friday, May 13.

"We appeal to the people to exercise their fundamental rights peacefully and call on the police to refrain from using disproportionate force," it said on Twitter.

"The Armenian authorities and the opposition must respect the unobstructed functioning of democratic and human rights institutions, including civil society and the media, necessary to guarantee the rights of all citizens in the line with democratic norms and standards."

In recent weeks, protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have taken to the streets to block major roads in the capital Yerevan and call on the population to commit acts of civil disobedience. Pashinian has come under fire after he and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev agreed to start drafting a bilateral peace treaty to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and set up a joint commission on demarcating the borders.