This report in Russian

ARMENIA

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 Jehovah's 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.
• In July the network of independent journalists Hetq Online received 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 government-led 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.

AI country reports/visits

Reports

• Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty International's concerns in the
  region, January-June 2006 (AI Index: EUR 01/017/2006)
• Commonwealth of Independent States: Positive trend on the abolition of the
  death penalty but more needs to be done (AI Index: EUR 04/003/2006)

Visit

AI delegates visited Armenia in April.