Tweet
PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE, BIASED COURTS, CORRUPT ARMY: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN ARMENIA REPORT
epress.am
02.22.2012
State authorities in Armenia continue to violate human rights and
fundamental freedoms, which are protected by the Constitution of the
Republic of Armenia, laws and international treaties and conventions
that the Republic of Armenia has signed, reads a report on the human
rights situation in the country in 2011 issued by the Yerevan-based
Helsinki Association for Human Rights.
"Though there were certain personnel changes in the state structures
that guarantee and protect human rights, there were no qualitative
changes in the protection of human rights," reads the report, referring
to the appointments of Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan and RA
Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan.
The report also mentions the general amnesty declared by Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan on May 20, which was carried out from May
27 to Sept. 21. According to the Helsinki Association, the decision
to declare amnesty came following pressure from the international
community and it targeted the release of those opposition activists
imprisoned in connection with the events of Mar. 1, 2008.
"Despite the amnesty, overcrowding continues to be a significant
problem in penitentiaries. Those imprisoned in penal institutions are
subject to torture, inhumane and humiliating treatment," according
to the report.
The Helsinki Association cites figures provided by the organization
Jehovah's Witnesses, which states that as of Jan. 2012, there are
58 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned due to conscientious objection
to military service. The Helsinki Association refers to these men
as prisoners of conscience, a group that, according to the Helsinki
Association, also includes Armenian National Congress activist Tigran
Araqelyan.
"Political persecution continues against those businessmen who don't
cooperate with the authorities. A vivid example of this is Yukos
[Oil Company] bankrupted in Russia and the continuing political
persecution as demanded till today by the Russian Federation against
Yukos' Armenia director Armen Mikaelyan," reads the report.
Weighing in on reports by international agencies, the Yerevan-based
human rights organization pointed out that in 2011, Freedom House and
Human Rights Watch considered the human rights situation in Armenia
inconsolable and without progress.
"On May 9, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas
Hammarberg published his report on Armenia, in which he stresses
that the application of force by authorities on Mar. 1-2, 2008, was
'disproportionate' and the steps toward uncovering the circumstances
surrounding the 10 deaths, 'ineffective.'
"On Oct. 5, Resolution 1837 was adopted at the 33rd sitting of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], which,
according to the Helsinki Association, doesn't objectively present the
current human rights situation, as well as allowing the authorities
to continue their unlawful policies adopted in this sector," reads
the report.
The authors of the report emphasize that despite authorities'
declarations of reforms and legislative changes, courts continue to
be corrupt and not independent (biased): the principle of separation
of court from state is violated, and judges carry out the orders of
prosecutors and the authorities.
Furthermore, the report notes, the army continues to be a criminal
and corrupt institution, and a significant portion of youth called to
mandatory military service from Armenia continue to carry out their
service in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
epress.am
02.22.2012
State authorities in Armenia continue to violate human rights and
fundamental freedoms, which are protected by the Constitution of the
Republic of Armenia, laws and international treaties and conventions
that the Republic of Armenia has signed, reads a report on the human
rights situation in the country in 2011 issued by the Yerevan-based
Helsinki Association for Human Rights.
"Though there were certain personnel changes in the state structures
that guarantee and protect human rights, there were no qualitative
changes in the protection of human rights," reads the report, referring
to the appointments of Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan and RA
Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan.
The report also mentions the general amnesty declared by Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan on May 20, which was carried out from May
27 to Sept. 21. According to the Helsinki Association, the decision
to declare amnesty came following pressure from the international
community and it targeted the release of those opposition activists
imprisoned in connection with the events of Mar. 1, 2008.
"Despite the amnesty, overcrowding continues to be a significant
problem in penitentiaries. Those imprisoned in penal institutions are
subject to torture, inhumane and humiliating treatment," according
to the report.
The Helsinki Association cites figures provided by the organization
Jehovah's Witnesses, which states that as of Jan. 2012, there are
58 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned due to conscientious objection
to military service. The Helsinki Association refers to these men
as prisoners of conscience, a group that, according to the Helsinki
Association, also includes Armenian National Congress activist Tigran
Araqelyan.
"Political persecution continues against those businessmen who don't
cooperate with the authorities. A vivid example of this is Yukos
[Oil Company] bankrupted in Russia and the continuing political
persecution as demanded till today by the Russian Federation against
Yukos' Armenia director Armen Mikaelyan," reads the report.
Weighing in on reports by international agencies, the Yerevan-based
human rights organization pointed out that in 2011, Freedom House and
Human Rights Watch considered the human rights situation in Armenia
inconsolable and without progress.
"On May 9, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas
Hammarberg published his report on Armenia, in which he stresses
that the application of force by authorities on Mar. 1-2, 2008, was
'disproportionate' and the steps toward uncovering the circumstances
surrounding the 10 deaths, 'ineffective.'
"On Oct. 5, Resolution 1837 was adopted at the 33rd sitting of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE], which,
according to the Helsinki Association, doesn't objectively present the
current human rights situation, as well as allowing the authorities
to continue their unlawful policies adopted in this sector," reads
the report.
The authors of the report emphasize that despite authorities'
declarations of reforms and legislative changes, courts continue to
be corrupt and not independent (biased): the principle of separation
of court from state is violated, and judges carry out the orders of
prosecutors and the authorities.
Furthermore, the report notes, the army continues to be a criminal
and corrupt institution, and a significant portion of youth called to
mandatory military service from Armenia continue to carry out their
service in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress