The Yezidi community of Armenia held a petition in defense of the head of the Yezidi Center for Human Rights, human rights activist Sashik Sultanyan. More than 1,500 Yezidis from the Yezidi community took part in the petition, expressing their disagreement with the illegal process against the Yezidi human rights activist. They appealed to the RA government, represented by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, to stop the criminal prosecution against Sashik Sultanyan. The document with the signatures of the yezidi community and the relevant letter was recently handed over to Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Below we present the text of the signature collection․
Dear Mr. Pashinyan, We, the undersigned representatives of the Yezidi community of Armenia, express our disagreement and deep indignation over the criminal prosecution of Yezidi human rights activist Sashik Sultanyan. It is worrying us most of all that is the fact that during more than a year of directed investigation and disproportionate investigative actions, no solid evidence of incitement to hostility by Sashik Sultanyan was found. However, the RA Prosecutor General’s Office decided to send the case to court with an indictment, describing the raising of human rights violations as an act of incitement to hostility.
Being acquainted with the activities of the Yezidi Center for Human Rights, in particular Sashik Sultanyan, we confidently claim that its activities have always contributed to the development and strengthening of the Armenian-Yezidi friendly relations and the protection of Yezidi rights. We consider very important and valuable the activity of his organization, which is aimed at the most effective protection of the rights of the Yezidis in Armenia. 2018 After the Velvet Revolution, Sashik Sultanyan and his organization implemented a number of programs and activities, which, being essential for the protection of the rights of the Yezidis, are at the same time very important for the establishment of a high level of solidarity among the peoples in our society as well as from the point of view of further strengthening the friendly relations between the fraternal Yezidis and the Armenian peoples. We hereby request:
1. Stop the criminal prosecution of Yezidi human rights activist Sashik Sultanyan
2. Provide sufficient conditions for the smooth operation of the Yezidi Center for Human Rights
3. To undertake the solution of the issues raised by Sultanyan and his colleagues
4. Start discussions with the Yezidi community to gather problems and find ways to solve them It should be reminded that that during more than a year of directed investigation and disproportionate investigative actions, no solid evidence of incitement to hostility by Sashik Sultanyan was found. . However, the RA Prosecutor General’s Office decided to send the case to court with an indictment, describing the raising of human rights violations as an act of incitement to hostility. A statement was issued on the criminal prosecution of Sashik Sultanyan by UN Special Rapporteur on National Minorities, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Defenders International Human Rights Organizations calling on the Armenian authorities to stop the unfounded criminal prosecution against the Yezidi human rights activist. Many human rights organizations and human rights activists in Armenia have issued a condemnatory statement calling for an end to the illegal persecution and expressing concern that the NSS prevents national or ethnic minorities or others from speaking out on human rights issues related to national minorities.