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KOCHARYAN AND WORN-OUT WEAPONS
Interview by ARMAN GALOYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics21730.html
Published: 16:44:20 - 11/05/2011
Interview with Republican Member of Parliament Rafik Petrosyan,
Deputy Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Human Rights
Would you comment on the latest report of the CoE Human Rights
Commissioner Hammarberg which noted that Armenia should make additional
steps for human rights protection?
These are common phrases, and we also say for ourselves that the state
of human rights needs to be improved. I think these statements are
too general because Hammarberg says the protection of human rights
needs improvement but does not point out specific areas.
He noted that although some of those detained for March 1 have been
released, there are still people who have deprived of their freedom,
and he is concerned about it.
The Criminal Code of Armenia provides a number of remedies to release
those people. It is disease, pardon, release on serving one third
or two thirds of the sentence. We have learned from the press that
the Public Council is going to appeal to Serge Sargsyan to free those
people. As a lawyer I can say that the Criminal Code does not provide
for release based on a petition by the Public Council or NGOs, unless
the convict solicits pardon. Necessary grounds should be created
in the law. Therefore, the president has instructed the minister of
justice to work out certain approaches.
You mean if Hovik Abrahamyan appeals to Serzh Sargsyan to release
Sasun Mikaelyan, does it contradict to the law?
Our law does not have such a provision, but it does not contradict
to the Constitution. The Constitution provides that whatever is not
illegal is permitted, therefore perhaps Hovik Abrahamyan appealed
being guided by this norm.
Will Serzh Sargsyan meet Hovik Abrahamyan's request?
It is hard to say. Serzh Sargsyan should decide himself. But if Hovik
Abrahamyan appeals, then may meet his request.
Hammarberg dwelt on the revelation of March 1 and considered the
steps as insufficient.
Earlier Hammarberg had said he would help. A fact-finding group was
set up on his proposal, he promised to send independent international
experts to participate in the fact-finding mission. After a lot of
requests from our side, only one expert came to help the group.
Do you blame Hammarberg for the failure to reveal March 1?
He says one thing, but does not keep his promise whenever action
is concerned. In this context, yes, he is also to blame. As to the
proceedings, nobody has ever stopped the investigation, and Serzh
Sargsyan instructed to intensify the proceedings. However, the Special
Investigative Service must continue the investigation
The opposition described Robert Kocharyan's recent statement as a
testimony of the accused to the case of March 1. Will these statements
be useful for the investigation?
Robert Kocharyan told what had happened. He said he had not ordered
to use old and worn-out weapons, etc.
Who had ordered then? Who is responsible?
The police chiefs, police officers are responsible who should not
have used those arms. But they could not have used something else
because that was all they had at hand. Only now they started acquiring
new weapons.
Is it possible that the former Chief of Police Haik Harutiunyan and the
head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan will be blamed,
they are responsible?
It has been confirmed that there are to blame for the use of those
weapons. It has been confirmed that the use of those weapons resulted
in grave consequences. However, the leadership of the police has
already been punished, they have been dismissed. As for the NSS, Gorik
Hakobyan did not give an order to the police, the NSS does not have a
function of protecting public order, it is the function of the Police.
As the deputy chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights,
are you concerned about the criticism of Armenia by international
organizations, the US department of state, the CoE, every secondary
and tertiary European official?
I am not concerned about that very much because there are countries
"worse" than Armenia where every day journalists are killed and human
rights are violated. Thank God, no journalist has been killed in
Armenia in the recent years. Besides, international evaluations stem
from subjective approaches. When our president visited Iran and met
with Ahmadinejad, the U.S. started criticizing us. Everything stems
from subjective interests.
Interview by ARMAN GALOYAN
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/engsrc/politics21730.html
Published: 16:44:20 - 11/05/2011
Interview with Republican Member of Parliament Rafik Petrosyan,
Deputy Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Human Rights
Would you comment on the latest report of the CoE Human Rights
Commissioner Hammarberg which noted that Armenia should make additional
steps for human rights protection?
These are common phrases, and we also say for ourselves that the state
of human rights needs to be improved. I think these statements are
too general because Hammarberg says the protection of human rights
needs improvement but does not point out specific areas.
He noted that although some of those detained for March 1 have been
released, there are still people who have deprived of their freedom,
and he is concerned about it.
The Criminal Code of Armenia provides a number of remedies to release
those people. It is disease, pardon, release on serving one third
or two thirds of the sentence. We have learned from the press that
the Public Council is going to appeal to Serge Sargsyan to free those
people. As a lawyer I can say that the Criminal Code does not provide
for release based on a petition by the Public Council or NGOs, unless
the convict solicits pardon. Necessary grounds should be created
in the law. Therefore, the president has instructed the minister of
justice to work out certain approaches.
You mean if Hovik Abrahamyan appeals to Serzh Sargsyan to release
Sasun Mikaelyan, does it contradict to the law?
Our law does not have such a provision, but it does not contradict
to the Constitution. The Constitution provides that whatever is not
illegal is permitted, therefore perhaps Hovik Abrahamyan appealed
being guided by this norm.
Will Serzh Sargsyan meet Hovik Abrahamyan's request?
It is hard to say. Serzh Sargsyan should decide himself. But if Hovik
Abrahamyan appeals, then may meet his request.
Hammarberg dwelt on the revelation of March 1 and considered the
steps as insufficient.
Earlier Hammarberg had said he would help. A fact-finding group was
set up on his proposal, he promised to send independent international
experts to participate in the fact-finding mission. After a lot of
requests from our side, only one expert came to help the group.
Do you blame Hammarberg for the failure to reveal March 1?
He says one thing, but does not keep his promise whenever action
is concerned. In this context, yes, he is also to blame. As to the
proceedings, nobody has ever stopped the investigation, and Serzh
Sargsyan instructed to intensify the proceedings. However, the Special
Investigative Service must continue the investigation
The opposition described Robert Kocharyan's recent statement as a
testimony of the accused to the case of March 1. Will these statements
be useful for the investigation?
Robert Kocharyan told what had happened. He said he had not ordered
to use old and worn-out weapons, etc.
Who had ordered then? Who is responsible?
The police chiefs, police officers are responsible who should not
have used those arms. But they could not have used something else
because that was all they had at hand. Only now they started acquiring
new weapons.
Is it possible that the former Chief of Police Haik Harutiunyan and the
head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakobyan will be blamed,
they are responsible?
It has been confirmed that there are to blame for the use of those
weapons. It has been confirmed that the use of those weapons resulted
in grave consequences. However, the leadership of the police has
already been punished, they have been dismissed. As for the NSS, Gorik
Hakobyan did not give an order to the police, the NSS does not have a
function of protecting public order, it is the function of the Police.
As the deputy chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights,
are you concerned about the criticism of Armenia by international
organizations, the US department of state, the CoE, every secondary
and tertiary European official?
I am not concerned about that very much because there are countries
"worse" than Armenia where every day journalists are killed and human
rights are violated. Thank God, no journalist has been killed in
Armenia in the recent years. Besides, international evaluations stem
from subjective approaches. When our president visited Iran and met
with Ahmadinejad, the U.S. started criticizing us. Everything stems
from subjective interests.