Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

May 23, 2008



Part 1



Armenia is a constitutional republic with a popularly elected president and a
unicameral legislature (National Assembly). The February 2008 presidential
elections were significantly flawed. Problems included favorable treatment of
the government's candidate, instances of ballot stuffing, vote-buying, multiple
voting, voter intimidation, violence against opposition commission members and
proxies, and suspiciously high turnout figures. On March 1, 2008, the government
imposed a state of emergency and used force to disperse large crowds of
protesters, restricting media freedoms and the right of assembly and arresting
scores of protesters. The clashes between protesters and security services
resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people. The state of emergency was lifted
March 20, 2008, but restrictions on civil liberties remain in force due to a
strict new law on public gatherings, pressure on opposition media, and
continuing arrests and intimidation of government opponents. The government's
human rights record remained poor. Citizens were not able to freely change their
government; authorities beat pretrial detainees; the National Security Service
and the national police force acted with impunity; authorities engaged in
arbitrary arrest and detention; courts remained subject to political pressure
from the executive branch; prison conditions were cramped and unhealthy,
although slowly improving; and authorities imposed restrictions on citizens'
privacy, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly. Journalists continued to
practice self‑censorship, and the government and laws restricted religious
freedom. Violence against women remained a problem, as well as trafficking in
persons, discrimination against persons with disabilities, and societal
harassment of homosexuals. There were reports of forced labor.



Part 2



The U.S. democracy and human rights strategy focuses on promoting democratic
institutions and processes, political pluralism, independent media, independent
judiciary, the rule of law, a vibrant civil society, respect for human rights,
freedom of religion, and institutional capacity of government agencies and NGOs
to combat trafficking in persons. In support of the parliamentary and
presidential elections in 2007 and 2008, respectively, the United States has
sought to improve electoral systems, procedures, and infrastructure, as well as
to involve civil society in electoral processes, via a broad portfolio of
assistance programs. The country's Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) that
entered into force in September 2006 is conditioned on meeting standards in the
"Ruling Justly" indicators, thus heightening the importance of promoting
democratic and human rights reforms to underpin the broader bilateral
relationship.



Part 3



U.S. officials exert constant diplomatic pressure to promote democracy and human
rights-related goals with government officials, political parties, civil
society, and media representatives at all levels. U.S. officials also regularly
convey these messages through local media channels. U.S. officials have also
repeatedly warned the government that MCC funding is contingent upon its
progress in democratic practices and in meeting the MCC indicators. The United
States continues to implement its three-year democracy promotion strategy, which
focuses on enhancing the integrity of the country's electoral processes,
including producing accurate voter lists, providing public information and voter
education, developing a democratic political culture, building public opinion
polling capacity, strengthening fair electoral adjudication, enhancing election
monitoring capabilities, strengthening political parties, and increasing
independent media coverage of elections. U.S.-sponsored public service
announcements prior to the parliamentary elections informed voters and officials
of the penalties for voter fraud contained in the new electoral code. The voter
registry was updated, officials were provided extensive election administration
training, local election observers were fielded in every polling station in the
country, and an election hotline was established to provide legal advice to
voters. U.S. assistance implemented through local NGOs also promoted public
awareness and education on voters' rights and responsibilities and resulted in
NGOs' active monitoring of the election campaign. Additionally, the United
States is working to reduce election fraud through training programs, including
seminars and a U.S. study tour for prosecutors and members of the Central
Election Commission. The United States provides technical support to the central
government in legislative reform pertaining to decentralization and improving
the transparency and democratic processes of local governments.



To support the development of an independent media, the United States continues
to fund a program to develop professional and sustainable media outlets,
decrease the media's heavy dependence on sponsorship from political and private
interests, and encourage outlets to adjust programming to respond to public
concerns. Program efforts have supported training and technical assistance to
help media outlets qualify for and repay loans provided by the United States.
The United States funded a survey to raise awareness of the law on freedom of
information among government officials, journalists, lawyers, judges, NGOs,
members of parliament, and party members. Additionally, funds were provided to
enable journalists to receive training locally, as well as in the United States
through the International Visitor Leadership Program. U.S.-supported training
themes include advanced journalism studies, reducing ethnic bias, the media and
elections, and relations between the press and the government. The United States
further supports freedom of information via Internet Connectivity Centers it
helped to establish, as well as via four American Corners that provide
information about U.S. democratic institutions.



U.S. efforts in support of an independent judiciary include technical assistance
to increase understanding of the case law supporting the European Convention on
Human Rights, including seminars and the translation and dissemination of
information on related decisions. U.S. efforts have also been crucial in the
drafting of a new Judicial Code of Ethics and the establishment of an annual bar
exam that admits new attorneys into the profession in a transparent and
objective manner. As a result, defense lawyers have become more professionally
sound in counter-balancing judges and prosecutors during trial. The United
States continues to conduct training programs for judges, prosecutors,
attorneys, and police with the aim of bringing law enforcement and judicial
practices into line with international standards. The U.S. government has
distributed numerous translated copies of a text on the U.S. legal system to the
highest ranking members of the government and conducted trial training programs
for prosecutors that introduced them to American legal practices. The U.S.
government also worked to improve criminal procedure laws in accordance with
international standards by bringing experts to the United States to review draft
legislation with local authorities.



Part 4



To promote the rule of law and fight corruption, the United States advocates for
improved anticorruption legislation that limits judicial discretion in
sentencing and increases penalties for perjury, bribery, and related crimes. A
U.S.-supported legislative proposal was adopted by the parliament in December
2007 and provides for transparency in court proceedings by allowing the
dissenting opinions of judges to be included as part of the judicial record. The
United States also provides funding to civil society groups to investigate and
raise awareness of corruption in schools and the court system. In 2007 the
United States initiated a program to reduce corruption that helps to equip
citizens to combat corrupt practices that they encounter and to change social
attitudes and behavior among youth and adults to help them become attuned to the
consequences of corruption and more likely to oppose or confront it. In
addition, the program strengthens anticorruption institutions, including the
government's Human Rights Defender (ombudsman), and encourages institutional
changes to prevent or reduce corruption.



U.S. officials are promoting vibrant civil society by encouraging the
government, independent, and opposition political parties, and civil society
organizations to engage in constructive dialogue on governance issues.
Television debates took place with U.S. funding before the parliamentary
elections in May 2007. In December 2007, in anticipation of the February 2008
presidential election, the U.S government funded programs on presidential
candidates and electoral issues that were aired in local regions through a
network of independent local broadcasting companies. A weekly television program
before the presidential election focused on ethical issues for journalists to
consider in election coverage. With U.S. funding, local NGOs continue to pursue
initiatives to promote human rights, democratic development, fair and
transparent electoral processes, and civil society. Through a strong,
consolidated effort, U.S. and NGO advocacy played a role in keeping Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty on the air. U.S.-supported NGOs are also making inroads in
supporting mental health care, building capacity to plan and execute advocacy
campaigns, lobbying on major environmental cases, and strengthening dialogue
between local authorities and communities to address local issues. Youth groups
in more than 70 communities throughout the country were mobilized during 2007
through U.S. support, and additional U.S. grants are improving the technical
skills of other NGOs.



To promote respect for human rights, U.S. officials in the country maintain
close, collaborative relations with local human rights defenders and
representatives of human rights NGOs. U.S. grants have funded public awareness
campaigns and training workshops on domestic violence. Additionally, U.S.
funding has enabled students to be trained on human rights in 35 schools across
the country and to help them prepare project proposals in their local
communities. U.S. officials frequently discuss religious freedom problems with
government and religious leaders as part of the overall policy to promote human
rights. The U.S. government maintains close contact with the head of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, leaders of other religious and ecumenical groups in
the country, and regional representatives of foreign-based religious groups,
such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses,
and Baha'is, raising their concerns with the government. Additionally, combating
human trafficking in the country remains a priority, and U.S. diplomacy on this
front continues. U.S. officials meet regularly with high-level members of the
government and members of the international antitrafficking working group to
promote their work against trafficking. U.S. officials also monitor local trials
of suspected traffickers and propose legislative initiatives to combat this
problem, such as increasing related criminal sanctions. U.S. officials also
propose recommendations on antitrafficking funding objectives to the government,
and U.S. antitrafficking assistance provides annual funding to a shelter that
offers a safe haven, medical, social, and legal services for victims of
trafficking. U.S. assistance has also provided training for the Border Guards
Service, the National Security Service, and the police on antitrafficking.