Death toll in Armenia was higher than officially declared
Iryna Chupryna April 15th, 2008
On April 14 the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) discussed the issue of the presidential election in Armenia on February 19. In his speech a PACE special rapporteur on Armenia John Prescott noted that, according to the investigations, 28 people (instead of the official death toll of 8 persons) were killed during the post-election protests in Armenia. Eight of them died in the protest rallies held in Yerevan, and twenty – later in hospitals.
According to John Prescott, Armenian authorities used against the protestors military means, including grenades.
He also stressed that serious violations of law were committed both in the run-up to the elections and during voting and vote tabulation. Many of them were revealed by Members of the Council of Europe and OSCE –ODIHR Election Observation Missions.
Following the debate, the Bureau made a decision to submit the issue to PACE plenary session on April 17. This decision may lead to imposing sanctions against the regime.
