International agencies admitted the existence of political prisoners in Armenia long ago, Chairman of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated at the ANC rally in Yerevan on Nov. 9. According to him, the Armenian Opposition has never tried to force European officials to use the term “political prisoners,” as they recognized the fact long ago. The only thing is, Ter-Petrosyan claims, the Opposition demands that the international agencies see to it that Armenia strictly observe its commitments. Armenia’s first President severely criticized the Council of Europe, a NEWS.am correspondent reports.

“Many European officials believe the situation in Armenia to be better as compared with that in Afghanistan or Somali. And our situation is really better: if their election campaigns claim hundreds of lives, ours claim only ten lives. However, such an approach is a subconscious manifestation of racism – when Armenia is deprived of the opportunity of being compared with civilized countries. The European officials’ position that sanctions against authoritarian regimes are ineffective is beneath criticism. However, if so, what is the reason why the CE regulations provides for such sanctions,” Ter-Petrosyan said.

According to him, the international community is pursuing a double standard policy. On the one hand, they claim they cannot interfere in states’ domestic affairs, which is the case with Armenia. On the other hand, they themselves do it very well when they need, which was the case with Iraq and Yugoslavia.

“Do you want Serzh Sargsyan to turn into Saddam Hussein?” the Opposition leader asked the international agencies. The paradox is that the Opposition has not only to struggle for rights and freedoms in Armenia, but also overcome international agencies’ inertia.

“This complication must not make us weaken our struggle,” Ter-Petrosyan said.