EU Questions Yerevan’s ‘Commitment To Democracy’

05 December 2005

The European Union has deplored serious irregularities reported during Armenia’s
disputed constitutional referendum, saying that they raised fresh questions
about the Armenian government’s commitment to democracy...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15551

Serious Regress

05 December 2005

«The whole process of referendum was held with obvious violations of the RA
legislation and the norms of international rights which seriously affected the
results of the referendum. When it comes to lawfulness, the Referendum recorded
serious regress in comparison with even the 2003 Presidential elections», the
preliminary report of the RA Constitutional Referendum local observers mission
of the NGO «Armenian Parliamentarism Center» says...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15546

Opposition Reports More Arrests

05 December 2005

The Armenian opposition reported over the weekend fresh arrests and
“intimidation” of dozens of its activists by plainclothes police following its
latest unsanctioned rally held in Yerevan...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15552

Reporters Without Borders calls for end to blocking of news website

05 December 2005

Reporters Without Borders has called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop
blocking an Armenian-based news website, Hetq.am that has been censored since 8
July, apparently because it posted a report on Armenian women being trafficked
into the Emirates...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15556

Hunger Striker Fed Forcefully

02 December 2005

On December 2 several advocatory organizations made an announcement about the
conditions in which 114-day hunger striker Razmik Sargsyan is kept in the
isolation cell...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15541

Advocate Accused of Crime

02 December 2005

On December 2 the Kentron and Norq-Marash Court of the first Instance heard the
case of Vahe Grigoryan, advocate of 4 families of Buzand Street. Let us remind
you that Vahe Grigoryan is accused of crimes not connected with the Buzand
affair. According to the supporters of Grigoryan, the accusations do not
correspond to reality...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15542

Right or Obligation?: President’s Open Ballot Causes Debate Over Electoral
Norm

02 December 2005

A constitutional law expert shares the concern of a number of public
organizations and opposition parties that decried the President Robert
Kocharyan’s open ballot in last Sunday’s referendum as a violation of electoral
law and a bad precedent for the country’s future elections...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15550

Armenia’s Emptying Democracy

by Sabine Freizer, Caucasus Project Director for the ICG

01 December 2005

International Crisis Group issued the report  on Constitutional Referendum
in Armenia.


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15531

Election Body Dismisses Opposition Demand To Scrap Referendum

30 November 2005

The Central Election Commission on Wednesday dismissed as unlawful opposition
demands to invalidate the official results of Armenia’s disputed constitutional
referendum.

An opposition grouping of about 20 parties has given the government-controlled
CEC until Friday to scrap the allegedly fraudulent vote or face more street
protests in Yerevan.

The commission secretary, Tsovinar Khachatrian, told RFE/RL that under Armenia’s
law on referendum the CEC can not consider any appeals after approving final
vote results. The CEC formalized the adoption of the constitutional amendments
put forward by President Robert Kocharian and his loyal parliament majority on
Tuesday...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15527

Turnout Controversy Clouds Armenian Constitutional Referendum

30 November 2005

Opposition forces in Armenia are protesting against what they say was a rigged
referendum, in which constitutional amendments were supposedly approved by 93
percent of voters.

The main opposition complaint concerns the turnout figure for the November 27
referendum. Officials claim over 65 percent of eligible voters cast ballots.
Meanwhile, opposition estimates suggest turnout was somewhere between 16-21
percent. The turnout issue is critical because under Armenian law at least
one-third of eligible voters must support a referendum proposal for it to be
adopted...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15524