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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT AND ABUSES IN THE ARMENIAN ARMY
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/17/amnesty-international-report-and-abuses-in-the-armenian-army.html
10.17.2013 02:11 epress.am
Activists, journalists, and organizations that expose abuses within
the Armenian army are intimidated and there is an attempt to restrict
their freedom of speech. A report published by Amnesty International
in late August titled "Armenia: No Space for Difference," discussed
in London last week, was today presented by South Caucasus Researcher
in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Programme Tural Ahmedzade via
live video call from London at the Media Center in Yerevan.
According to Ahmedzade, at Amnesty International's London discussion,
several cases were examined: Journalists for Human Rights NGO President
Janna Aleksanyan being called in for questioning for her article about
an incident in the army, the pressure on activist Lala Aslikyan who
exposes issues within the army, and young writer Hovhannes Ishkhanyan
being called in for questioning by the military police for his book
The Day of Discharge.
These cases, according to Ahmedzade, are considered attempts to
restrict freedom of speech, which might also prevent people speaking
about incidents in the army in the future.
A discussion between Ahmedzade and the Media Center's invited guests
followed the presentation of the report.
Deputy Chief of the Investigative Service of the RA Ministry of Defense
Hayk Grigoryan said that the interrogation of Janna Aleksanyan cannot
be seen as an example of exerting pressure since Aleksanyan was called
in as a witness and her testimony could assist in disclosing Zhora
Lazarian's case.
"Aleksanyan, based solely on a conversation with Zhora Lazarian's
father, wrote that Lazarian was raped in the army. We have to find
out if such a thing happened," said Grigoryan.
Aleksanyan countered this, saying that news of the soldier being
raped initially appeared on the Henaran.am website, after which she
picked up the story and went with staff of the Ombudsman's office to
visit Lazarian, and saw the signs of torture on his body. According
to the journalist, to later interrogate her and tell her that the
military police have a record of her private phone conversation with
Lazarian's father is to exert pressure.
The other case Amnesty International mentioned, that of Ishkhanyan's
book, was challenged by Military Police Lieutenant Colonel Armen
Mnatsakanyan: "Such a book shouldn't have been written. Imagine if
a 14-year-old reads this book. How is he going to later serve in the
army? Described in this book are incidents that can't happen in the
army. A man cannot rape another man."
Rights and Freedom Center NGO Chair Vardan Harutyunyan, who was present
at the discussion, countered this, saying this is the wrong approach,
since what is being discussed is a creative work, and compelling not
to publish the book is nothing other than censorship.
From: A. Papazian
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/17/amnesty-international-report-and-abuses-in-the-armenian-army.html
10.17.2013 02:11 epress.am
Activists, journalists, and organizations that expose abuses within
the Armenian army are intimidated and there is an attempt to restrict
their freedom of speech. A report published by Amnesty International
in late August titled "Armenia: No Space for Difference," discussed
in London last week, was today presented by South Caucasus Researcher
in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Programme Tural Ahmedzade via
live video call from London at the Media Center in Yerevan.
According to Ahmedzade, at Amnesty International's London discussion,
several cases were examined: Journalists for Human Rights NGO President
Janna Aleksanyan being called in for questioning for her article about
an incident in the army, the pressure on activist Lala Aslikyan who
exposes issues within the army, and young writer Hovhannes Ishkhanyan
being called in for questioning by the military police for his book
The Day of Discharge.
These cases, according to Ahmedzade, are considered attempts to
restrict freedom of speech, which might also prevent people speaking
about incidents in the army in the future.
A discussion between Ahmedzade and the Media Center's invited guests
followed the presentation of the report.
Deputy Chief of the Investigative Service of the RA Ministry of Defense
Hayk Grigoryan said that the interrogation of Janna Aleksanyan cannot
be seen as an example of exerting pressure since Aleksanyan was called
in as a witness and her testimony could assist in disclosing Zhora
Lazarian's case.
"Aleksanyan, based solely on a conversation with Zhora Lazarian's
father, wrote that Lazarian was raped in the army. We have to find
out if such a thing happened," said Grigoryan.
Aleksanyan countered this, saying that news of the soldier being
raped initially appeared on the Henaran.am website, after which she
picked up the story and went with staff of the Ombudsman's office to
visit Lazarian, and saw the signs of torture on his body. According
to the journalist, to later interrogate her and tell her that the
military police have a record of her private phone conversation with
Lazarian's father is to exert pressure.
The other case Amnesty International mentioned, that of Ishkhanyan's
book, was challenged by Military Police Lieutenant Colonel Armen
Mnatsakanyan: "Such a book shouldn't have been written. Imagine if
a 14-year-old reads this book. How is he going to later serve in the
army? Described in this book are incidents that can't happen in the
army. A man cannot rape another man."
Rights and Freedom Center NGO Chair Vardan Harutyunyan, who was present
at the discussion, countered this, saying this is the wrong approach,
since what is being discussed is a creative work, and compelling not
to publish the book is nothing other than censorship.
From: A. Papazian