Lawyer Ruben Melikyan reports that the petition addressed to the RA President, initiated by Larisa Alaverdyan, Avetik Ishkhanyan and himself has been sent to the addressee: the President of the Republic of Armenia. 132 Lawyers and human rights activists joined the petition.

The text of the statement is as follows:

“We, the undersigned Lawyers and Human Rights Activists, following with deep concern the events taking place in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 6 February, note that the decision of the legislative body to hold a referendum is in clear violation of the RA Constitution and the constitutional legislation.

By emphasizing the mechanisms of direct democracy, we also insist that they cannot be applied arbitrarily and unjustly. This will not only undermine the foundations of the rule of law, but will also create a serious precedent for the violation of constitutional law. These concerns are fully in line with Armenia’s international commitments within the Council of Europe.

In the light of the foregoing, we call on the President of the Republic to abstain from participating in this unconstitutional process and from appointing of the referendum.”

“I should also mention what I personally mean by ‘abstaining from participating in this unconstitutional process and from appointing of the referendum ‘. I understand that the President of the Republic should not appoint a referendum “by his own signature,” regardless of whether the “de facto referendum” will be appointed by law or not,” Ruben Melikyan said.

1 ․ Larisa Alaverdyan, RA First Human Rights Defender

2 ․ Avetik Ishkhanyan, Human Rights Activist

3 ․ Ruben Melikyan, Lawyer

4 ․ Arsen Babayan, Human Rights Activist

5. Ara Ghazaryan, Attorney, License No. 2183

6 ․ Gevorg Hakobyan, Attorney, License No. 1785

7 ․ Robert Hayrapetyan, Lawyer

8 ․ Lusine Martirosyan, Lawyer, License No. 579

9 ․ Ruben Sahakyan, Attorney, License No. 13

10 ․ Ani Davtyan, Lawyer, Attendant of Chamber of Advocaqtes

11 ․ Lilit Nersesyan, Lawyer, License No. 1735

12 ․ Lilit Karapetyan, Attorney, License No. 2498

13 ․ Norayr Hakobyan, Lawyer, License No. 1832

14 ․ Ovsanna Stepanyan, Attorney, License No. 772

15 ․ Levon Janibekyan, Lawyer

16% Gurgen Grigoryan, Attorney, License No. 359

17 ․ Armine Avagyan, Attorney, License No. 2660

18 ․ Taron Kakoyan, Lawyer

19 ․ Lusine Grigoryan, Lawyer, License No. 1700

20 ․ Koryun Tamrazyan, Attorney, License No. 1564

21 ․ Khachatur Ghandilyan, Lawyer, License No. 2688

22 ․ Arpine Avetisyan, Lawyer

23 ․ Ashot Nurijanyan, Attorney, License No. 2001

24 ․ Larisa Baghdasaryan, Attorney, License No. 2663

25 ․ Mariam Harutyunyan, Attorney, License No. 1081

26 ․ Tatevik Bujatyan, Attorney, License No. 1179

27 ․ Julieta Navasardyan, Lawyer, License No. 2738

28 ․ Ruben Jamakaryan, Attorney, License No. 2676

29% Gayane Papoyan, Attorney, License No. 2284

30 ․ Georgi Melikyan, Attorney, License No. 1798

31 ․ Lilit Aghajanyan, Lawyer

32 ․ Gevorg Yeghiazaryan, Lawyer

33 ․ Varuzhan Avetikyan, Lawyer

34 ․ Hrant Sarkisov, Lawyer

35 ․ Shushan Tadevosyan, Attorney, License No. 1995

36 ․ Gagik Melikyan, Lawyer, License No. 2210

37 ․ Sose Chandoyan, Attorney, License No. 2554

38 ․ Amram Makinyan, Attorney, License No. 2140

39 ․ Naira Balabekyan, Lawyer, License No. 2374

40 ․ David Israelyan, Attorney, License No. 2256

41 ․ Ruzanna Abrahamyan, Lawyer

42 ․ Harutyun Hovhannisyan, Lawyer

43 ․ Karen Movsisyan, Lawyer

44 ․ Zhanna Simonyan, Attorney, License No. 942

45 ․ Lusine Virabyan, Lawyer, License No. 1750

46 46 Garik Sahakyan, Lawyer, License No. 1740

47 ․ Narine Abelyan, Lawyer, License No. 2654

48 ․ Ani Hakobyan-Orbelian, Lawyer

49 ․ Irma Chagharyan, Attorney, License No. 2690

50 ․ Shoghik Duryan, Lawyer

51 ․ Manush Yesayan, Lawyer, License No. 2593

52 ․ Alexander Ghazaryan, Lawyer

53 ․ Siranush Sahakyan, Lawyer, License No. 860

54 ․ Eric Petrosyan, Lawyer, License No. 2630

55 ․ Hunan Ter-Vardanyan, Lawyer, License No. 1108

56 ․ Mary Safaryan, Lawyer

57 ․ Mher Ghazaryan, Lawyer, License No. 2021

58․Narine Abelyan, Lawyer, License No. 2654

59 ․ Lilit Mkhitaryan, Lawyer

60 ․ Murad Asryan, Lawyer, License No. 877

61 ․ Armen Gasparyan, Lawyer

62 ․ Arthur Hovhannisyan, Lawyer, License No. 1732

63 ․ Hayk Kochinyan, Attorney, License No. 2455

64․Eva Darbinyan, Lawyer

65․Tigran Atanesyan, Attorney, License No. 78

66 ․ Astghik Matevosyan, Lawyer, License No. 2335

67 ․ Irina Mangasaryan, Lawyer

68 ․ Henrik Martirosyan, Lawyer, License No. 2110

69 ․ Sofya Kharatyan, Lawyer, License No. 2678

70 ․ NonaKarakhanyan-Sargsyan, Lawyer

71 ․ Gevorg Nikolyan, Lawyer

72 ․ Nana Artashesyan, Lawyer

73 ․ Gohar Meloyan, Lawyer

74 ․ Sedrak Asatryan, Lawyer, License No. 799

75 ․ Marine Farmanyan, Lawyer, License No. 1754

76 ․ Narine Beglaryan, Lawyer, License No. 1572

77 ․ Hakob Safaryan, Lawyer, License No. 941

78 ․ Hovhannes Kocharyan, Lawyer, License No. 1325

79 ․ Vahagn Grigoryan, Attorney, License No. 1413

80․Anni Vardanyan, Attorney, License No. 1253

81․Hasmik Martirosyan, Attorney, License No. 1484

82․Anahit Sargsyan, Attorney, License No. 962

83 ․ Gagik Hambaryan, Lecturer of Law

84․Sayad Badalyan, Lecturer of Law

85 ․ Shushanik Balabekyan, Lawyer, License No. 2317

86 ․ Armen Galstyan, Lawyer

87 ․ Mher Sahakyan, Lawyer

88 ․ Yervand Varosyan, Lawyer, License No. 776

89 ․ Hovhannes Zamsaryan, Attorney, License No. 1078

90 ․ Lusine Sahakyan, Lawyer, License No. 999

91 ․ Emil Amirkhanyan, Attorney, License No. 993

92 ․ Vahan Hovhannisyan, Lawyer, License No. 1466

93 ․ Arsen Mkrtchyan, Attorney, License No. 2134

94 ․ Arus Hayrapetyan, Lecturer in Law

95 ․ David Avagyan, Attorney, License No. 2537

96 ․ Sergey Harutyunyan, Lawyer, License No. 1460

97 ․ Varazdat Harutyunyan, Attorney, License No. 2426

98 ․ Arthur Hovhannisyan, Lawyer, License No. 1732

99 ․ Mariam Berberian, Lawyer, License No. 978

100 ․ Vahe Hovsepyan, Lawyer, License No. 919

101 ․ Valya Poghosyan, Lawyer, License No. 1802

102 ․ Suzanna Khcheyan, Attorney, License No. 1443

103 ․ Tatev Andreasyan, Lawyer

104. Marianna Arevshatyan, Lawyer, License No. 1855

105. Arthur Mikaelyan, Lawyer

106. Mher Hayrapetyan, Lawyer, License No. 2263

107 ․ Levon Sahakyan, Lawyer, License No. 1245

108 ․ Arthur Buduryan, Lawyer

109 ․ Liana Grigoryan, Lawyer, License No. 892

110 ․ Vahe Eprikyan, Attorney, License No. 2322

111 ․ Sona Shakaryan, Lawyer

112 ․ Avetis Apiyan, Lawyer

113 ․ Nora Baghdasaryan, Lawyer

114 ․ Angelika Arushanyan, Lawyer

115 ․ Angela Abrahamyan, Lawyer

116 ․ Mane Hakobyan, Lawyer

117 ․ Mihran Poghosyan, Lawyer, License No. 1112

118 ․ Armen Tevanyan, Lawyer, PD Attendant

119 ․ Anna Yeritsyan, Lawyer, PD Attendant

120 ․ Anna Kirakosyan, Lawyer

121 ․ Karen Ghonyan, Attorney, License No. 1725

122 ․ Shushan Harutyunyan, Lawyer, License No. 2684

123 ․ Arthur Pivazyan, Attorney, License No. 2439

124 ․ Mary Khachatryan, Lawyer, License No. 539

125 ․ Anna Mkrtchyan, Lawyer

126 ․ Harutyun Harutyunyan, Lawyer, License No. 916

127 ․ Hrayr Khachatryan, Attorney, License No. 2260

128 ․ Lilit Manaseryan, Attorney, License No. 2043

129 ․ Sona Harutyunyan, Lawyer, License No. 1044

130 ․ Alexander Kochubaev, Lawyer, License No. 2606

131 ․ Emma Davtyan, Attorney, License No. 448

132. Levon Nersisyan, Human Rights Activist