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Armenia: Joint Press Release: Human Rights Defender released

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  • Armenia: Joint Press Release: Human Rights Defender released

    JOINT PRESS RELEASE
    FIDH
    ·FIDH : Karine Appy / Gael Grilhot, + 33 1 43 55 25 18
    ·OMCT : Delphine Reculeau, + 41 22 809 49 39
    ·Civil Society Institute, +374 10 574317




    ARMENIA: Human rights defender released


    Paris-Geneva-Yerevan, October 20, 2009. The Observatory for the
    Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the
    International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World
    Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), along with the Civil Society
    Institute, Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Vanadzor office, the Helsinki
    Committee of Armenia, the Collaboration for Democracy centre,
    Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre, as well as the
    Foundation against Violation of Law, welcome the release on bail of
    human rights defender Arshaluys Hakobyan.



    On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork
    Marash Communities of Yerevan decided to release on bail Mr. Arshaluys
    Hakobyan, a member of the Armenian Helsinki Association and press
    photographer of the official website of the organisation
    (www.hahr.am), who had been in pre-trial detention for four
    months. Immediately after the hearing, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan had to
    sign a document by which he committed not to leave the area. He
    eventually walked out of the court room free and the trial was
    postponed pending complementary investigation.



    On June 6, 2009 the Court of First Instance for Kentron and
    Nork-Marash districts had placed Mr. Hakobyan in pre-trial
    detention. His arrest followed his attempt to monitor the elections
    for the Mayor of Yerevan together with a group of observers. After he
    had filed a complaint to challenge denial to accede a polling station,
    the police summoned him and eventually arrested him. Mr. Hakobyan was
    charged with `violence against a Government representative' pursuant
    to Article 316 of the Criminal Code and trial started on September 16,
    2009.



    The aforementioned organisations welcome Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan's
    release, and thank all the persons, institutions and organisations who
    intervened in his favour.



    Nevertheless, our organisations deplore that Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan
    remains charged with `violence against a Government
    representative'. Our organisations urge the Armenian authorities to
    put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level,
    against Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, in conformity with the provisions of
    the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and with
    international and regional human rights instruments ratified by
    Armenia.



    Our organisations also denounce that, in the course of arrest and
    detention, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan was subjected to acts of
    ill-treatment. Therefore we urge the Armenian authorities to order a
    thorough, immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the
    above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in
    order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a
    competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the
    sanctions provided by the law.


    For further information, please contact:
    ·FIDH : Karine Appy / Gael Grilhot, + 33 1 43 55 25 18
    ·OMCT : Delphine Reculeau, + 41 22 809 49 39
    ·Civil Society Institute, +374 10 574317

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