AI REPORT
Conscientious objectors continued to be imprisoned. There were reports of intimidation of independent journalists. The Ombudsperson was removed from her post in January by a presidential decree that she alleged was unconstitutional.
Conscientious objectors Armenia did not release conscientious objectors to military service, in defiance of its obligations and commitments undertaken when acceding to the Council of Europe to respect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and despite the introduction of an alternative civilian service to military service in national legislation in July 2004.
Conscientious objectors continued to complain that in both its legislative framework and implementation, Armenia's alternative service was under the supervision and control of the military and so did not constitute a real civilian alternative to military service.
As of November there were reportedly 48 Jehovah's Witnesses and one Molokan (a member of a Russian religious minority) in detention for draft evasion. Forty-four of the Jehovahs Witnesses had been tried and sentenced to terms ranging from 18 to 48 months' imprisonment. The remaining four were charged and awaiting trial.
In January an amendment to the criminal code was adopted making conscripts who refuse to perform alternative service liable to imprisonment. In May, 19 men, all Jehovah's Witnesses, filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights to prevent retrospective prosecution for their abandonment of the alternative service in 2004.
Fifteen of the 19 applicants had been arrested in August 2005 and sentenced to between two and three and a half years' imprisonment under existing articles of the criminal code dealing with desertion from military service rather than refusal to perform alternative service. Although their convictions were later overturned and all were subsequently released, the courts refused to formally acquit the men. The case was dropped in November when all 19 were acquitted and all charges against them dropped.
In October a decision of the Court of Appeal granted a prosecutor's request for a stricter sentence to be handed down to Jehovah's Witness Hayk Avetisian. His sentence was increased from 24 to 30 months. Freedom of expression Human rights activists and the Ombudsperson's Office expressed concern over incidents of intimidation and harassment against independent journalists, including two assaults, death threats and the stoning of personal property.
On 6 September, Hovannes Galajian of the Iravunk newspaper was beaten by two unidentified men outside his home. The attack followed the publication of a number of articles criticizing prominent officials. b In July the network of independent journalists Hetq Onlinereceived threats of reprisals, including death threats, if its journalists continued to publish articles concerning the illegal acquisition of land for redevelopment.
Ombudsperson removed from office Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdian was removed from her post in January by presidential decree and her duties entrusted to an interim three-member commission.
She alleged that her removal and replacement were unconstitutional because a presidential prerogative either to dismiss the Ombudsperson or to replace that post by another body was not provided for in Armenian law. She and other human rights activists alleged that her removal had been prompted by her criticism of government policies and practices. A new Ombudsperson was elected by the National Assembly in February.
Human rights lawyer released on bail Lawyer Vahe Grigorian, known for his advocacy work for families resisting forced eviction for governmentled redevelopment programmes in central Yerevan, was released on bail in February.
He had been held since October 2005 on charges of fraud which he alleged were unfounded and politically motivated. The charges against him were not dropped and the case was still pending at the end of the year.
STRIPPING IN GYUMRI
At 9:35, May 22, 26-year-old Robert Piloyan, shot at Hovhannes Arakelyan, the director of “Karo” filling station and fled. The incident happened in the town of Gyumri.
According to our data, there ...BALASANYAN “DESERTS THE SHIP” AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Samvel Balasanyan, a member of the Orinats Yerkir Party (OYP), who was running in the parliamentary elections at Precinct 35, is quitting the OYP.
It is noteworthy that a year ago, on May 29, during ...ROOF BURNT DOWN
At 5:45p.m., May 22, a fire broke out in Building 58, Nzhdeh Street, the town of Berd. Two fire brigades immediately left for the scene. The fire was extinguished at 8:15.
A 11-square roof and a 58-square ...BRAZILIAN FOOTBALLER HAS TO WAIT FOR 6 MONTHS
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Brazilian legionary of “Ararat” Marcos stands out at the current Armenian Football Championship due to his clever and productive participation. The team administration has already noticed ...MURDERER IS DETAINED
On May 15 Arthur Zakaryan (b. in 1980) was taken to hospital with a chest injury. He died without regaining consciousness.
The investigation revealed that Karen Barseghyan (b. in 1978), a resident ...OSKANIAN MET WITH MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
May 23, 2007- RoA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian hosted Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier, the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs who are in Yerevan on a regional visit. The parties dwelt on disputable ...PALLONE COMMENDS ARMENIA ON FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
Washington, DC - Speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, commended Armenia for holding ...THE STRONG VERSUS THE WEAK
The 7th tour meetings of the Armenian Football team championship kick off today. This tour is a special one as the 4 favorites of the championship will host the other four teams which do not compete ...SERGE SARGSYAN LEAVES FOR YALTA
The Armenian delegation headed by RoA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan leaves for Ukraine on May 24 to take part in the session of the Council of Heads of Governments of CIS-member states.
The key issues ...ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS ARE LEAVING FOR KOSOVO
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The seventh shift of the Armenian peace-keepers is leaving for Kosovo on May 24. On the same day the sixth shift of the peace-keepers is returning to Armenia.
Today RoA Defense Minister ...PACE PRESIDENT CONDEMNS RECENT BOMB ATTACK
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President (PACE) René van der Linden, currently on an official visit to Belgrade, strongly condemned the recent bomb attack in Ankara. “In our societies there ...MINISTER IS CONTENT WITH HIS POST
Levon Mkrtchyan, the Minister of Education and Culture and a member of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Party, expressed his readiness to hold the post for the forth term. Nevertheless, it is upon the party to ...PAP WON THE REACE OF DISTRIBUTING ELECTION BRIBES
36 observers of the Vanadzor office of Helsinki Civil Assembly observed the election campaign and the May 12 voting in Armenian towns and villages.
“The parliamentary election does not comply with the ...TRANSFER OF THE ARMENIA SCHOOL CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT TO ROA GOVERNMENT
Yerevan – May 23, 2007 – Within the framework of the Armenia School Connectivity Program, Project Harmony is pleased to announce the final event devoted to an official transfer of the Armenia School ...DEMIRCHIAN DID NOT MEET KOCHARIAN
Today “ Zhamanak-Yerevan” (Time- Yerevan) issued an article according to which Republican Volodya Badalyan had arranged a meeting between Stepan Demirchian and Robert Kocharian. During the meeting President ...SAMVEL BALASANYAN IS NO LONGER OYP MEMBER
Samvel Balasanyan, a member of the Orinats Yerkir Party /OYP/, has already submitted applications to the OYP and to the Central Electoral Commission on his withdrawal from the party.
“Balasanyan was ...SERGE SARGSYAN MET WITH CO-CHAIRS
Today RoA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan hosted the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov and Bernard Fassier who are in Yerevan on a regional visit.
The parties dwelt on recent developments ...ARMENIAN CHESS PLAYERS MAKE WONDERS
Armenian Women's chess team enjoyed victory in the 4th tour of the World Chess Championship. Our chess players beat the team of Botswana by the score of 4:0.
To remind, on May 22, the Armenians beat ...AI REPORT
Conscientious objectors continued to be imprisoned. There were reports of intimidation of independent journalists. The Ombudsperson was removed from her post in January by a presidential decree that ...
TAMAMYAN-JUST A NAME HEARD?
ISRAEL HAKOBKOKHYAN WENT ON HUNGER-STRIKE /VIDEO/
EMERGENCY STATE IN MARTUNY
FELIKS KHACHATRYAN TO APPLY TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
PEOPLE SUPPORT NIKOL PASHINYAN /VIDEO /
AZERBAIJAN: POACHERS OUT OF CONTROL
GOHAR GASPARYAN HAS DIED
HAKOBKOKHYAN DEMANDS PROVES FROM SERGE SARGSYAN
TWO NIGHTS AT FREEDOM SQUARE
NUMBER OF “PROTESTING” DISTRICTS HAS BECOME 11
- 1878 Anglo-Turkish secret Alliance. Britain obtained Cyprus from Turkey in exchange for supporting Turkish policies.
- 1916 Gorky publishes the "Collection of Armenian Literature" in St. Petersburg (Russia).
- 1960 Death of the Armenian national hero Soghomon Tehleerian. He was born on 1896 04 02.
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