The visit of Thomas Hammarberg to Armenia evidences that the patience of the Council of Europe is exhausted, according to coordinator of the Armenian National Congress (ANC).

“After the amnesty declared in 2009, the CoE had hopes for sooner release of the other political prisoners,” Levon Zurabyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“However, the Council of Europe made sure that the Armenian authorities can take action only under pressure,” he said.

Zurabyan also noted that the Armenian authorities’ policy regarding political prisoners resembles ‘trade in hostages’.