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Our Authorities Are Former 'KGB-Ists' And Have Inherited The Attitud

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  • Our Authorities Are Former 'KGB-Ists' And Have Inherited The Attitud

    OUR AUTHORITIES ARE FORMER 'KGB-ISTS' AND HAVE INHERITED THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE USSR

    [ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]

    August 8 2013

    23 delegates from more than 10 member countries of the European Council
    have presented a petition from all political groups for the adoption
    of the resolution entitled "Mass wiretapping in Europe".

    It will be in discussion on August 31. In the conversation with
    Aravot.am, human rights defenders considered the existence and
    application of human rights norms necessary, and expressed their
    concern about the fact that the wiretapping is still considered normal
    in Armenia. 

    Vardan Harutyunyan, head of "Rights and Freedom Center", in a
    conversation with Aravot.am, noticed that wiretapping is a common
    phenomenon for post-Soviet countries. "We always deal with wiretapping
    phenomenon. No one will be surprised that now our conversation is
    recorded." To the question, whether the application of only formulas
    and rules are enough to get rid of this phenomenon, or the political
    will of the leadership of the country is necessary, V. Harutyunyan
    said: "It is possible that these formulas will affect Armenia in the
    future. But for today's authorities, as well as for Ukraine, Belarus
    authorities, it is incredible that they should not wiretap. I relate
    this with giving up with the Soviet legacy. Our authorities manage
    with the Soviet mentality. We have not been cut off from the Soviet
    Union, we still live with the Soviet Union mentality and lifestyle. It
    is directly connected with the fact that our authorities are former
    "KGB-ists". Our national security has not become national security
    of Armenia, it continues to remain a "KGB." 

    Artak Zeynalyan, a member of "Republic" party and human rights
    defender, also signifies the application of legal norms in this issue
    and detailed: "People should be protected from illegal interferences
    to the rights to respect their privacy. It is impossible to rely only
    on the political will. The authority should be limited by real and
    effective legal regulatory mechanisms." To our question whether people
    in Armenia are protected from wiretapping, A. Zeynalyan responded: "The
    legal framework may be sufficient, but the law enforcement does not
    apply in practice. Under the conditions of legal intervention, there is
    still not enough guarantees and law enforcement practice to apply these
    norms. The reason is in the perception that the man has this right, and
    it is a fundamental right. There is no respect for human rights." With
    regard to inertia traditions of the Soviet Union, Mr. Zeynalyan said
    the following: "The attitude towards human rights that is available
    in Armenia today is inherited from the Soviet Union. People do not
    understand that they have this rights, and if interference occurs,
    they can recover the right. The Courts issue numerous wiretapping
    permissions but the individuals who have experienced such interference
    to their rights are not afterwards notified about it and the body
    conducting legal proceedings fails to inform them of the ways to
    seek restitution for their rights." A. Zeynalyan believes that
    the procedures in the Criminal Procedure Code should be clearly
    defined, and the procedure on destruction of wiretapped records
    should be developed, the procedures of the rights to participate in
    its destruction should be developed. According to him, in case of
    interventions by non-state bodies, the state bodies should protect
    that rights, and implementers of illegal interventions should be
    subjected to appropriate responsibilities. 

    Tatev HARUTYUNYAN  

    Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/08/155922/ 

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