Ashot Grigoryan, president of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, and members of the presidium of the Committee for the Defense of the Armenian Apostolic Church — Ján Čarnogurský, former prime minister of Slovakia; František Mikloško, former speaker of Slovakia’s National Council; and Pavol Hrušovský, another former speaker of Slovakia’s National Council — have issued a statement expressing support for detained Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PPA), businessman and philanthropist.
They stated that they would step up their efforts to help “political prisoners unlawfully deprived of their liberty in Armenia, particularly Mr. Gagik Tsarukyan, provide legal protection and achieve results in the struggle against their imprisonment.”
The statement reads:
“Mr. Tsarukyan is known as a major benefactor of the Armenian nation and, in particular, a prominent defender of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Many of us, during our visits to Armenia, became acquainted with Mr. Tsarukyan’s activities, especially the churches he has built. We are also aware of his efforts to install a statue of Christ in Armenia, the first country to officially adopt Christianity.
“We know about the factories he has restored in Armenia and the large number of buildings he has constructed.
“We are aware that Armenia’s leadership, and specifically the prime minister, have carried out repressive and unlawful actions against opposition leaders and prominent representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church. As a result, Armenia is now perceived in Europe as an anti-democratic state,” the statement said.
On July 6, it emerged that law enforcement officers had entered the residence of Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, as well as enterprises belonging to his Multi Group conglomerate, and were conducting searches. The companies’ premises were sealed, and operations were suspended. Tsarukyan was detained that same day and remanded in custody the following day.
