In a statement distributed to the press in Armenia, Hayk Khanoumyan, President of the Artsakh European Movement NGO, accuses the authorities in Artsakh of carrying out scare tactics against his relatives and supporters of the group in retaliation for the civic and educational work they are conducting in Artsakh.

Mr. Khanoumyan also claims that RA Police Chief Alik Sargsyan has also gotten into the act.

The Artsakh NGO leader says that on June 15, Sargsyan invited his father Ruben Khanoumyan, Deputy Director of the Tavoush Department of Investigations, to a meeting. During the meeting, Sargsyan is said to have instructed the father "to get your son in line" and to urge him to leave Artsakh.

Hayk Khanoumyan goes on to say that after receiving a negative response to his requests, Police Chief Sargsyan pressured his father into signing a request to leave his position in the investigations department.

The younger Khanoumyan has attracted the attention of authorities in Stepanakert for his views stating that there is no free and independent press in Artsakh and that the authorities quash any attempt at forming a true political opposition.

He argues that the domestic political situation in Artsakh is doing great harm to the country's standing in the eyes of the international community and weakens the Armenian position in settlement talks.

Khanoumyan concludes his open letter by calling on NGO's and civic groups in Armenia to demand the resignation of people like Police Chief Alik Sargsyan who are serving the interests of those who wish to see an Artsakh void of Armenians.