Protest action in Marseilles against Ilham Aliyev visit to France

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS: On the occasion of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to France the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) held a protest action at the local Armenian Church in Marseilles against the pardoning of the assassin Ramil Safarov. As reported by Armenpress, quoting Nouvelles d'Armenie, the action was attended by about 200 people, including political and public figures. The Head of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of FranceElian Kazanjian (Marseille chapter) announced that the President of France Francois Hollande will be transferred a letter signed by a number of officials, which appeals to make clear actions to establish justice in the issue of the Azerbaijani assassin Ramil Safarov’s punishment, who axe-murdered the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan.

The action was attended by the initiator of the bill criminalizing the negation of the Armenian Genocide, Deputy of the French Senate Valerie Buaye, Deputy Mayor of Marseilles Roland Blum, members of the Marseilles Town Hall Council Didier Parakyan, Frolans Mars, etc.

The member of the Marseilles Town Hall Council, member of the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France Pascal Shamasyan announced that their struggle would be long-term. “We are appealing to the defenders of human rights and protectors of democracy to express their anger concerning the incident and condemn the Azerbaijan’s actions”, - said Shamasyan.

On September 18 at 18:00 local time in Paris a large-scale rally will be held in front of the Azerbaijani Embassy and the Armenians will express their indignation towards the Azerbaijan's policy and the decision to receive Aliyev in France. Armenpress was earlier informed about it by the Head of the French Office of the «Armenian Cause» of France Hrach Varzhapetyan. France is a country of human rights, justice and democracy and it should not receive the Azerbaijani President after the murderer Ramil Safarov's release in a country like France. «This time we should express our discontent more franticly. The action will be attended by many Armenians, who will act with united behaviour and trait», - said Hrach Varzhapetyan.