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The National Citizens' Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 - 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nci.am
June 20, 2008
NCI Explores Armenian MPs as political prisoners
Yerevan--Today, the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) convened a
public hearing to examine the issue of Armenian parliament members as
political prisoners and the legal basis for their imprisonment. The
meeting brought together MPs, social and political activists, NGO
officials, attorneys, analysts, and media representatives.
In her intervention, Heritage Party MP and civil rights lawyer Zaruhi
Postanjian looked at the Armenian prosecutor general's recent petition
to revoke the immunities of Parliamenterians Sasun Mikaelian, Miasnik
Malkhasian, Hakob Hakobian, and Khachatur Sukiasian and to place them
under arrest. Postanjian stated that the MPs were taken into custody
unlawfully. She argued that the petition lacked substantial evidence.
In her view, this formal request lacked any documentation proving that
these parliament members would have hindered the preliminary
investigation. "It was under these circumstances that the absolute
majority of the National Assembly voted in favor of stripping these
MPs of their immunity while the prosecutor general has not yet
answered our question as to why our colleagues to the present are
under arrest," Postanjian noted.
The next speakers, legal defenders Arthur Atarbekian and Melania
Arustamian, gave detailed accounts of the current investigation
launched into the cases of their imprisoned clients, MPs Sasun
Mikaelian, Miasnik Malkhasian, and Hakob Hakobian. They demonstrated
with evidence that the relevant investigation was carried out with
numerous violations of the law. Atarbekian and Arustamian also
maintained that they will apply to each and every court of instance in
the Republic and, if no result is achieved, they ultimately will
submit a formal application to the European Court of Justice.
In their turn, Armenia's first Ombudswoman and current Ombudsman
Larisa Alaverdian and Armen Harutiunian, respectively, reflected on
the general background of this issue.
"If human rights and the freedom of citizens are not protected in a
country, then it cannot truly become free and independent. Any
unlawful measure taken against the citizen of Armenia hurts the
citizen and damages the country's standing," Alaverdian stated.
And according to Armen Harutiunian, the National Assembly's taking
away of the immunity of the aforementioned members of parliament
raises numerous questions to which he has no answers. "If there are
sufficient grounds for stripping those MPs of their immunity and
keeping them under confinement, why then no judicial proceeding has
been brought against them until now? And if there are no sufficient
grounds, why are they currently in prison?" Harutiunian asked. He also
added that his criticisms are for the benefit of Armenia and its
international standing, and has the objective of helping the
authorities to make sound judgments.
The National Citizens' Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign
Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with
the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in
the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National
Citizens' Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law
and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy,
Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the
vehicles for the Initiative's work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit www.nci.am
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 0033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 - 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 - 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nci.am
June 20, 2008
NCI Explores Armenian MPs as political prisoners
Yerevan--Today, the National Citizens' Initiative (NCI) convened a
public hearing to examine the issue of Armenian parliament members as
political prisoners and the legal basis for their imprisonment. The
meeting brought together MPs, social and political activists, NGO
officials, attorneys, analysts, and media representatives.
In her intervention, Heritage Party MP and civil rights lawyer Zaruhi
Postanjian looked at the Armenian prosecutor general's recent petition
to revoke the immunities of Parliamenterians Sasun Mikaelian, Miasnik
Malkhasian, Hakob Hakobian, and Khachatur Sukiasian and to place them
under arrest. Postanjian stated that the MPs were taken into custody
unlawfully. She argued that the petition lacked substantial evidence.
In her view, this formal request lacked any documentation proving that
these parliament members would have hindered the preliminary
investigation. "It was under these circumstances that the absolute
majority of the National Assembly voted in favor of stripping these
MPs of their immunity while the prosecutor general has not yet
answered our question as to why our colleagues to the present are
under arrest," Postanjian noted.
The next speakers, legal defenders Arthur Atarbekian and Melania
Arustamian, gave detailed accounts of the current investigation
launched into the cases of their imprisoned clients, MPs Sasun
Mikaelian, Miasnik Malkhasian, and Hakob Hakobian. They demonstrated
with evidence that the relevant investigation was carried out with
numerous violations of the law. Atarbekian and Arustamian also
maintained that they will apply to each and every court of instance in
the Republic and, if no result is achieved, they ultimately will
submit a formal application to the European Court of Justice.
In their turn, Armenia's first Ombudswoman and current Ombudsman
Larisa Alaverdian and Armen Harutiunian, respectively, reflected on
the general background of this issue.
"If human rights and the freedom of citizens are not protected in a
country, then it cannot truly become free and independent. Any
unlawful measure taken against the citizen of Armenia hurts the
citizen and damages the country's standing," Alaverdian stated.
And according to Armen Harutiunian, the National Assembly's taking
away of the immunity of the aforementioned members of parliament
raises numerous questions to which he has no answers. "If there are
sufficient grounds for stripping those MPs of their immunity and
keeping them under confinement, why then no judicial proceeding has
been brought against them until now? And if there are no sufficient
grounds, why are they currently in prison?" Harutiunian asked. He also
added that his criticisms are for the benefit of Armenia and its
international standing, and has the objective of helping the
authorities to make sound judgments.
The National Citizens' Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Armenia's first Minister of Foreign
Affairs Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues, and fellow citizens with
the purpose of realizing the rule of law and overall improvements in
the state of the state, society, and public institutions. The National
Citizens' Initiative is guided by a Coordinating Council, which
includes individual citizens and representatives of various public,
scientific, and educational establishments. Five commissions on Law
and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues, Foreign Policy,
Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth constitute the
vehicles for the Initiative's work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03; fax
(37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit www.nci.am