Out of Custody but Not Out of Trouble: Buzand attorney still under long reach
of the “law”

24 February 2006

Lawyer Vahe Grigoryan, considered a political prisoner by human rights
activists, was released last Thursday from custody. Grigoryan had been jailed
since last October on charges that appeared more retribution for his defense of
residents who opposed authorities buying out their Buzand Street homes, than
legitimate enforcement of law...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15777

New Society, New Problems, New Solution: Armenia’s first shelter for homeless
opens

24 February 2006

The made-up face of a young woman radiates artificial happiness, giving a half
smile from beneath her eyelids loaded with blue shading. She clinches her fist
as she speaks. Her unattended nails are also painted blue.

Karmen is one of the homeless people who found temporary shelter at one of the
buildings of Yerevan’s boarding house N1. She was transferred here from the
Abovyan anti-tuberculosis center where her three-month-old son Edmond was
receiving treatment. Before that for five years she lived in the entrances to
buildings, in public gardens. There are no homeless shelters for minors, so
Karmen gave her baby to the children’s home in Nork temporarily...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15778

Armenian Lawyers Frustrated With Lack Of Court Independence

23 February 2006

Armenia’s courts have grown even more subservient to law-enforcement authorities
in recent years, routinely condoning human rights abuses and passing unjust
guilty verdicts, a prominent lawyer who heads the national bar association
claimed on Thursday.


Ruben Sahakian, the recently elected chairman of the Armenian Chamber of
Advocates, said winning a court battle with state prosecutors is now practically
impossible even for experienced trial attorneys...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15771

ARMENIA: Will new alternative service law end defiance of Council of Europe?

23 February 2006

As Armenia prepares the fourth version of its Alternative Service Law, first
adopted in 2004, Justice Minister David Harutyunyan has told Forum 18 News
Service that the draft now being prepared will "very soon" be sent to
parliament...

www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15774