The Helsinki Association issued a statement saying that President of the Football Association, MP of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Ruben Hairapetyan called the Helsinki Association Monitor Arman Veziryan on Sunday.

The Helsinki Association condemns the violence Ruben Hairapetyan used against the monitor Arman Veziryan near the Harsnaqar restaurant on July 8, 2012. The incident happened when Arman Veziryan was monitoring the “freedom of peaceful rallies” in Armenia.

The Helsinki Association views the incident as an act against human rights protection activities. This is not the first instance of violence against Helsinki Association staffers that has been disregarded by law-enforcers.

Such incidents are the result of the Armenian authorities’ wrong policy. The authorities did not make adequate assessments of the previous incidents despite the fact that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed the necessity for reforms in Armenia’s law-enforcement and judicial system by his numerous decrees.

According to Article 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of Armenia, media reports on the offence may serve as a basis for initiating criminal proceedings. The Helsinki Association is expecting the Armenian authorities’ response.

P.S. When the Helsinki Association was on the point of disseminating its statement Ruben Hairapetyan called Arman Veziryan and apologized.