STATEMENT
07 May, 2014
Mr. Volinkin, the Russian Federation Ambassador to Armenia, declared a “persona non grata”[1] by Georgian authorities and exiled from the country for carrying out intelligence activities against their state, made the following statement during an interview with the “Noyev Kovcheg” periodical: “I believe that Russia should remind of its own presence in Armenian informational sphere. There’s no doubt about it. However, additional methods should also be used in order to neutralize the NGOs which are striving to drive a wedge between the Russian-Armenian relations. Russia, in fact, has adopted a law that clearly regulates the NGO activity. The outcome is quite obvious: those who have targeted their activities against the Armenian-Russian friendship don’t wish prosperity either to Russia or Armenia.”[2] Earlier on April 12, 2014 in Yerevan Volinkin himself announced that Russia would prevent any aggressive intervention in the home affairs of its ally states to be implemented under the “pretext of disseminating ideas that are alien to our minds and hearts.”[3]
These evaluations have not received a proper response by the RA authorities so far.
We consider such kind of statements a violation of diplomatic norms, as well as gross interference in the home affairs of Armenia and a regular attempt to attack the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.
Ambassador Volinkin must be alert and vigilant to comprehend and respect the Constitution of the RA and realize that Armenia is a sovereign and a democratic state, governed by the rule of law. Volinkin thus abuses his authority by coming up with such statements.
We demand that the RA Government attend to the behavior of the RF Ambassador Volinkin by ensuring that he is either removed from office or makes a proper apology to the citizens of Armenia.
Meanwhile, by declaring that there are no NGOs in Armenia that undertake activities against the Armenian-Russian friendship, we’d recommend that Ambassador Volinkin organize such a witch hunt beyond the Republic of Armenia.
- Journalists’ Club Asparez
- Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
- Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center
- Open Society Foundations – Armenia
- Collaboration for Democracy NGO
- “We Plus” Social NGO
- Arena of Educational NGO
- Goefon
- Dialogue for Peace
- Rights Informational Center
- Human Rights and Conflicts Research Institute
- Hayk Nazaryan
- Hasmik Knyazyan
- New Generation NGO
- Guarantee Center of Civil Society
- David Shahnazaryan
- Shirak Center
- Public Journalism Club
- Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan
- Vanadzor and Twinning Cities
- Civic initiative center Free Citizen
- Victims of State Needs
- Ara Nedolyan
- “Development of Gyumri”
- Vahagn Antonyan
- Women’s Resource Center
- Goris Press Club
- Women’s Support Center
- Helsinki Committee of Armenia
- Armenian Constitutional Rights Protection Center
- Civic Forum
- SKIL Foundation
- Public Information and Need of Knowledge
- Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation
- National Citizens’ Initiative
- “Khoran Ard” Intellectual Center
- Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression
- “EcoLur” Informational NGO
- Urban Foundation
- «Trtu» NGO
- Regional Studies Center
- Naira Arakelyan
- “Hay Dzmer Pap” Charitable Trust
- Ashot Hovhannisyan
- Real World, Real People
- Institute for Democracy and Human Rights
- Arpine Ginosyan
- Ruben Mehrabyan
- National Association of Art Critics
- Zara Hovhannisyan
- Artak Yeghiazaryan
- Menua Brutyan
- Anna Shahnazaryan
- Boris Navasardyan
- Elina Poghosbekyan
- «Srbazan hox» NGO
Organizations, unions and civil initiatives sharing this opinion are welcome to join the announcement.
[1] apsny.ge/news/1194650751.php