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Lack of transparency in government a crucial human rights problem in
Armenia - State Department
April 20, 2013 | 12:52
Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most
significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report on
Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.
`The most significant human rights problems in Armenia are during the
year 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 report says.
One of the sections of the report is dedicated to the May
parliamentary elections in Armenia.
`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,' the report says.
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.'
News from Armenia - NEWS.am
Armenia - State Department
April 20, 2013 | 12:52
Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most
significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report on
Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.
`The most significant human rights problems in Armenia are during the
year 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 report says.
One of the sections of the report is dedicated to the May
parliamentary elections in Armenia.
`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,' the report says.
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.'
News from Armenia - NEWS.am