The first Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdyan released the
report

"On the activities of first
Ombudsman and on the situation with Human Rights and fundamental freedoms in the
country" (in Armenian)

9 February 2006

Residents of Buzant Went to Zakharyan

13 February 2006

«The right of property is not recognized and defended in the Republic of
Armenia». This was the poster with which the five families from the Buzand
street organized an act of complaint opposite the Yerevan municipality building.

The residents of the Buzand street were going to submit an application to the
Yerevan Mayor representing the cases of violating their rights and asking to
support them...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15737

Lawyer Marina Janoyan Was Attacked

13 February 2006

On February 13 at about 02:20 p.m. on the Aleq Manoukyan street, near the
central building of the Yerevan State University a car tried to run over lawyer
Marina Janoyan...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15740

Diaspora-Funded TV Denounced For Unmasking ‘Western Spies’

10 February 2006

A television network sponsored by a U.S. philanthropist of Armenian descent and
loyal to President Robert Kocharian faced on Friday an angry rebuttal of its
apparent allegations that Armenia’s leading human rights groups work for Western
intelligence services.

In a report aired for three consecutive days, the Armenia TV station and its two
sister channels suggested that the Armenian Helsinki Committee (AHC) and other
local watchdogs receive Western grants in return for spying on their country.
The report featured excerpts from an interview with the chairman of the Yerevan
Press Club, Boris Navasardian, which left the impression that he agrees with the
allegations.

Incidentally, Armenia TV and its ArmNews and TV5 affiliates themselves have a
wealthy Western sponsor in Armenian-American businessman Gerard Cafesjian who
has invested millions of dollars in them in recent years. The three channels are
part of the CS Media group co-owned by Cafesjian and a pro-government Armenian
businessman. Its news coverage has been sympathetic to Kocharian and critical of
his political opponents.

“Sadly, Gerard Cafesjian’s investments are used for spreading government
propaganda and disinformation and reviving Soviet-style anti-journalism,”
Ishkhanian said in a separate statement.

He claimed that the espionage accusations were ordered by the Armenian
authorities in retaliation for his organization’s sharp criticism of their human
rights record and their handling of elections. He said they may have also been
“instructed from Russia” where the authorities are increasingly restricting
activities of Western-funded civic groups...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15736

Statement by President
of the Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardian

Statement of the
Helsinki Committee of Armenia



No Ombudsman Was Elected

8 February 2006

On February 8 in the National Assembly the elections of the Ombudsman took place
with a closed poll. None of the two candidates (Armen Haroutyunyan and Ruben
Torosyan) had the necessary number of votes. Armen Haroutyunyan was voted for by
69 deputies and against by 25, and Tigran Torosyan – correspondingly 25 and 69.
The next elections of Ombudsman will take place in several days...



www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=15721