Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian strongly criticized Armenia’s human rights
Ombudsman Armen Harutiunian on Thursday for challenging the official version of
the deadly street clashes that followed the recent presidential election.

The Armenian authorities have defended the use of lethal force against thousands
of supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian who barricaded themselves
on a street junction outside the Yerevan mayor’s office hours after the break-up
of their 10-day sit-in in the city’s Liberty Square on March 1. They say
security forces that tried to disperse the angry crowd were not only pelted with
stones and Molotov cocktails but also came under gunfire.

Harutiunian cast doubt on the credibility of the official theory in an extensive
report issued in late April. The report said in particular that the Armenian
police have yet to publicize any evidence of the use of firearms by the
protesters. It stressed that the deadly violence was sparked by the dispersal of
some 2,000 Ter-Petrosian supporters camped out in Liberty Square. It said that
contrary to police assurances the protesters were “not given any time to stop
the rally.”

The Office of the Prosecutor-General and the Ministry of Justice voiced strong
objections to the ombudsman’s findings in separate reports released late last
month. The move led the human rights committee of the Armenian parliament to
hold hearings on the controversy.

Speaking at the hearings, Hovsepian claimed that Harutiunian’s report is based
on “unfounded” opposition claims and is therefore not objective. He said the
ombudsman also overstepped his constitutional powers by making recommendations.
“It is obvious that by publicly raising questions you did not seek to get
answers to them and pursued other goals,” he told Harutiunian.

In his speech before the panel, Harutiunian rejected the accusations. He claimed
that the Office of the Prosecutor-General and the Justice Ministry deliberately
“distorted” the content of his report in order to avoid answering questions
raised by it. He also said Armenia’s constitution and laws do not empower the
prosecutors to challenge statements made by the human rights defender.

That claim was echoed by David Harutiunian (no relation), chairman of the
parliament committee on legal affairs and one of the few lawmakers who defended
the ombudsman during the hearings. “There is nothing wrong with the prosecutor’s
office presenting its position,” he told RFE/RL. “But am concerned that the
issues raised by the prosecutor’s office are quite politically motivated. There
is a desire to defend the authorities which I think is unacceptable.”

By Karine Kalantarian