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Restrictions on civil society and corruption major human rights
problems in Armenia - US Department of State
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/04/20/state-gov/
17:04 - 20.04.13
In 2012, the most significant human rights problems in Armenia were
limitations on the right of citizens to change their government,
corruption and lack of transparency in government, and the limited
independence of the judiciary, the US Department of State says in its
2012 country report on Armenia.
The document hghlights the major flaws in the conduct of May 6
parliamentary elections and corruption at different levels of
government. It further addresses political pressures against courts
and deaths in the military. The prison problems, including
overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and unsanitary conditions have
been mentioned as a separate area of concern.
The summary of the report is presented below:
Flaws in the conduct of May 6 legislative elections included the
misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible
allegations of vote buying, deficiencies in the complaints and appeals
process, and continued shortcomings in the electoral code despite
improvements. Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of
government undermined the rule of law, although the government took
limited steps to punish low- to mid-level official corruption. Courts
remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch,
which resulted in some politically motivated prosecutions and
sentencing.
Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in
the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other
mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and a lack
of accountability for such actions. Police allegedly continued to
employ torture to obtain confessions and reportedly beat citizens
during arrest and interrogation. Many prisons were overcrowded,
unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates. Authorities
continued to arrest and detain criminal suspects without reasonable
suspicion and to detain individuals arbitrarily. Trials were often
prolonged, and courts failed to enforce laws providing for fair
trials. Laws against government intrusion on the right to privacy and
unlawful searches were inadequately enforced. The pre-election period
was marked by diverse media coverage; however, the media continued to
lack diversity of political opinion and objective reporting outside
the campaign period. Members of religious minorities suffered from
societal discrimination. Domestic violence remained a problem but
largely went unreported to authorities. Human trafficking was a
problem, which authorities made efforts to combat.
Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all
areas of life. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons
were subjected to societal abuse and discrimination by military and
prison authorities. Workers' rights were limited and labor laws weakly
enforced.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of
the security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with
impunity while under the direction of civilian leadership. The
government issued a report in December 2011 on its investigation into
the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers following the
2008 presidential election but, as of year's end, had not held anyone
accountable made efforts to combat. Persons with disabilities
experienced discrimination in almost all areas of life. Lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons were subjected to societal
abuse and discrimination by military and prison authorities. Workers'
rights were limited and labor laws weakly enforced.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of
the security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with
impunity while under the direction of civilian leadership. The
government issued a report in December 2011 on its investigation into
the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers following the
2008 presidential election but, as of year's end, had not held anyone
accountable.
The full report can be accessed here.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204468.pdf
problems in Armenia - US Department of State
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/04/20/state-gov/
17:04 - 20.04.13
In 2012, the most significant human rights problems in Armenia were
limitations on the right of citizens to change their government,
corruption and lack of transparency in government, and the limited
independence of the judiciary, the US Department of State says in its
2012 country report on Armenia.
The document hghlights the major flaws in the conduct of May 6
parliamentary elections and corruption at different levels of
government. It further addresses political pressures against courts
and deaths in the military. The prison problems, including
overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and unsanitary conditions have
been mentioned as a separate area of concern.
The summary of the report is presented below:
Flaws in the conduct of May 6 legislative elections included the
misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible
allegations of vote buying, deficiencies in the complaints and appeals
process, and continued shortcomings in the electoral code despite
improvements. Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of
government undermined the rule of law, although the government took
limited steps to punish low- to mid-level official corruption. Courts
remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch,
which resulted in some politically motivated prosecutions and
sentencing.
Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in
the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other
mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and a lack
of accountability for such actions. Police allegedly continued to
employ torture to obtain confessions and reportedly beat citizens
during arrest and interrogation. Many prisons were overcrowded,
unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates. Authorities
continued to arrest and detain criminal suspects without reasonable
suspicion and to detain individuals arbitrarily. Trials were often
prolonged, and courts failed to enforce laws providing for fair
trials. Laws against government intrusion on the right to privacy and
unlawful searches were inadequately enforced. The pre-election period
was marked by diverse media coverage; however, the media continued to
lack diversity of political opinion and objective reporting outside
the campaign period. Members of religious minorities suffered from
societal discrimination. Domestic violence remained a problem but
largely went unreported to authorities. Human trafficking was a
problem, which authorities made efforts to combat.
Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all
areas of life. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons
were subjected to societal abuse and discrimination by military and
prison authorities. Workers' rights were limited and labor laws weakly
enforced.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of
the security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with
impunity while under the direction of civilian leadership. The
government issued a report in December 2011 on its investigation into
the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers following the
2008 presidential election but, as of year's end, had not held anyone
accountable made efforts to combat. Persons with disabilities
experienced discrimination in almost all areas of life. Lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons were subjected to societal
abuse and discrimination by military and prison authorities. Workers'
rights were limited and labor laws weakly enforced.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the
security forces and elsewhere who committed abuses, some members of
the security forces continued to commit human rights abuses with
impunity while under the direction of civilian leadership. The
government issued a report in December 2011 on its investigation into
the deaths of eight civilians and two police officers following the
2008 presidential election but, as of year's end, had not held anyone
accountable.
The full report can be accessed here.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/204468.pdf