Announcement

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. 

1. Journalists’ Club Asparez
2. Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
3. Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center
4. Open Society Foundations – Armenia
5. Collaboration for Democracy NGO
6. “We Plus” Social NGO
7. Arena of Educational NGO
8. Goefon
9. Dialogue for Peace
10. Rights Informational Center
11. Human Rights and Conflicts Research Institute 
12. Hayk Nazaryan
13. Hasmik Knyazyan
14. New Generation NGO
15. Guarantee Center of Civil Society
16. David Shahnazaryan
17. Shirak Center
18. Public Journalism Club

19. Gevorg Ter-Gabrielyan

20.  Vanadzor and Twinning Cities

21.  Civic initiative center Free Citizen

22.  Victims of State Needs

23.  Ara Nedolyan

24.  “Development of Gyumri”

25.  Vahagn Antonyan

26.  Women’s Resource Center

27.  Goris Press Club

28.  Women’s Support Center

29.  Helsinki Committee of Armenia

30.  Armenian Constitutional Rights Protection Center

31.  Civic Forum

32.  SKIL Foundation

33.  Public Information and Need of Knowledge

34.  Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation

35.  National Citizens' Initiative

36.  “Khoran Ard” Intellectual Center

37.  Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

38.  “EcoLur” Informational NGO

39.  Urban Foundation

40.  «Trtu» NGO

41.  Regional Studies Center

42.  Naira Arakelyan

43.  "Hay Dzmer Pap" Charitable Trust

44.  Ashot Hovhannisyan

45.  Real World, Real People 

46.  Institute for Democracy and Human Rights

47.  Arpine Ginosyan

48.  Ruben Mehrabyan

49.  National Association of Art Critics

50.  Zara Hovhannisyan

51.  Artak Yeghiazaryan

52. Menua Brutyan
53. Anna Shahnazaryan

07 May, 2014

Organizations, unions and civil initiatives sharing this opinion are welcome to join the announcement.