Kurds in Armenia have launched collection of signatures in support of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Gathered in front of Grigor Lusavoritch Church in Yerevan, the group suggested that passers-by sign their petition calling for Öcalan's release.
"We cannot find peace as long as Öcalan is in prison. We have already visited all marzes in Armenia. We call for Öcalan's immediately release not only in the name of the Kurdish people but everyone," said Tamara Chatoyan, a representative of the Kurdish community in Armenia.
The collection of signatures started in December 2012 and will continue through March, 2013. Öcalan needs at least 5 mln signatures to be set free.
"We have already gathered 5000 signatures in Armenia," said the group members.
Many of the passers-by did not know Abdullah Öcalan, who is serving his sentence in Turkey but they willingly signed the petition.
Öcalan was sentenced to death for treason against the Turkish state in 1999 but whose sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when Turkey was forced to abolish the death sentence as part of it's application to join the EU - and the Turkish government.
