Ombudsman Ready to Help Conscripts

[27.10.2004]

Office of Ombudsman has today released such a statement: “2004’ autumn levy of
Army started in Armenia. Serving the homeland is the civic duty of each citizen
subject to conscription. But infringement of human rights and freedoms during
the call-up is intolerable. Armenian Ombudsman expresses her willingness to
study the applications of the persons of levy age whose rights have been broken
during conscription.

We will discuss the appeals of the persons who: a/refuse the military service
for religious or other convictions and are ready for alternative military or
non-military service; b/are not subject to levy being citizens of others states;
c/have health problems.

As well the applications of those who had concerned cases of violation of human
rights and basic freedoms during call-up will be viewed.

You may address: Yerevan, Proshyan 12; telephones – 262694; 262695

Ombudsman’ Department of Information and Relations with the Public


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1857

Press Discusses Removal of the Radio Liberty Program from TV Air

[28.10.2004]

The removal of “Azatutiun” (“Liberty”) program, produced by Radio Liberty
Armenian Service, from the air of “Kentron” TV company, caused much debate in
the press. On October 13 the management of "Kentron" announced the suspension of
broadcasting the subsequent program issues (the first one was aired on October
10). On October 19 the President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Thomas Dine
addressed a letter to the President of Armenia Robert Kocharian, in which he
urged the head of the state “to denounce this contemptible Soviet-style act, and
to help return “Azatutiun” on air”.

On October 22 “Hayots Ashkhar” newspaper published the response of the Spokesman
of the RA President Ashot Kocharian to Thomas Dine under the heading of
“Ultimatums are Unacceptable”. In the letter to the head of Radio Liberty
amazement is expressed at the fact of addressing the President per se, since
“Kentron” is a privately-owned TV company and the decision about the
discontinuation of “Azatutiun” program “was made by its owner and management
without any official pressure”.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1849

Convict For Attack on Photojournalist Released

[28.10.2004]

On October 26 Gagik Stepanian, convicted to six months' imprisonment for having
attacked on August 24 in Tsaghkadzor the correspondent of “Photolure” photo news
agency Mkhitar Khachatrian and obstructed the professional activities of Mkhitar
Khachatrian and the correspondent of “Aravot” daily Anna Israelian, got an early
release. As it has been reported, the sentence was made on October 11, 2004 by
the court of primary jurisdiction of Kotayk region. Commenting on this case, YPC
made a supposition that the three-time convict Stepanian has a chance to regain
freedom quite soon, as the Armenian legislation permits - right after the
verdict came into force, since he had already spent one-third of the sentence in
custody (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, October 8-14, 2004). Our
supposition came true.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1848

Another Fact of Police Brutality

[28.10.2004]

Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan received Thursday alarming call from a Yerevan
resident Rafik Sahakyan. He told the ombudsman his son Hmayak Sahakyan was
seized Wednesday from his apartment by police officers and taken to a police
station, where was severely beaten.

While standing outside the police station, Rafik Sahakyan saw emergency car two
times came. When the emergency was called for the second time, he saw his son
lying on the stretches with swollen face.

On Thursday, when Larissa Alaverdyan went to the police station in a bid to
clarify the situation, she was denied entry.

Only after the interference of the police chief Hovhannes Varyan the ombudsman
was permitted to enter.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1847

Statement of Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia and
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression

[29.10.2004]

On October 27, 2004 at Tsaghkahovit village of Aragatsotn region the Chief
Editor of “Aragats Ashkhar” newspaper Vardevan Grigorian was beaten by the head
of the Aragats Fire Prevention Department and his deputy for a piece published.
The case is particularly out of the ordinary as the same person (the head of the
fire prevention department) had also exercised violence against Vardevan
Grigorian five years ago and received an administrative punishment for that.

This is already the second case of violence against regional media
representatives in the course of October and comes to prove the point of our
previous statements - that the lack of punishment gives rise to new crimes, and
their wave has now started to cover the regions of Armenia.

Yerevan Press Club, Journalists Union of Armenia and the Committee to Protect
Freedom of Expression condemn the incident with Chief Editor of “Aragats Ashkhar”
and demand the law enforcement bodies to conduct an objective investigation and
to punish those responsible.

Yerevan Press Club

Journalists Union of Armenia

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1850

Government Approves Compromise Deal With ArmenTel

[03.11.2004]

After ten days of deliberations and reportedly heated debates the government
approved late Wednesday a compromise agreement to settle its long-standing
disputes with ArmenTel which will lead to a partial liberalization of Armenia’s
telecommunications market. Justice Minister David Harutiunian who negotiated the
out-of-court settlement was given ten days to formalize it with the ArmenTel
management.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1852