Government To Open First Shelter For Armenia’s Homeless

[10.02.2005]

The government announced on Thursday plans to open and finance Armenia’s
first-ever shelter for a growing number of homeless people that were virtually
non-existent in the past.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1904

Presentation of Vanadzor Press Club

[10.02.2005]

On February 5 in Vanadzor the presentation of Vanadzor Press Club was held. The
Club was established on the initiative of Vanadzor Branch of Helsinki Citizens
Assembly. Representatives of regional and national media, professional
associations of Armenia took part in the event. Congratulations to the new NGO
were made by Yerevan Press Club, Internews Armenia, “Asparez” Journalists Club
of Gyumri, “Eurasia” Foundation, USAID, the South Caucasus mission of IKV -
Interchurch Peace Council. Yerevan Press Club President Boris Navasardian
granted the colleagues the books published by Yerevan Press Club for the library
to be established by the new journalistic association.

The mission of Vanadzor Press Club is to assist the establishment and
development of the media of Lori and Tavush regions, the free dissemination of
information, the protection of the rights of journalists in these regions. The
President of Vanadzor Press Club is Artur Sakunts, the Executive Director is
Narineh Bulghadarian. On February 3 the first issue of VPC newsletter was
published, which can be viewed on the web site of the new organization
www.vpc.am


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1905

Investigation on the Ignition of “Haikakan Zhamanak” Car Stopped

[10.02.2005]

On February 9 “Haikakan Zhamanak” daily informed that the day before, on
February 8, an employee of the Yerevan Investigation Department of RA Police
Ashot Kostanian made a resolution on stopping the investigation on the criminal
proceedings on the ignition of the car, owned by “Haikakan Zhamanak” and used by
its Chief Editor.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1906

A Year of Reformatory Labor for the Attack on the Correspondent of “Haikakan
Zhamanak”

[10.02.2005]

On February 4 at the court of primary jurisdiction of Center and Nork-Marash
communities of Yerevan the hearings on the attack on the correspondent of
“Haikakan Zhamanak” daily Arman Galoyan were completed. As it has been reported,
the incident occurred on September 23, 2004, when the journalist was
interviewing the owners of the trade stalls being demolished around one of the
Yerevan markets. In the course of the investigation one of the attackers,
impeding the work of “Haikakan Zhamanak” correspondents, was identified: this
was the market controller Armen Vardanian. It was also revealed that in late
August, one month before the incident, the same Armen Vardanian, in the vicinity
of the same market, had beaten two residents of Yerevan. The two cases were
united into one litigation, and Vardanian was charged for the two episodes:
Articles 164 (“Obstruction of legal professional activities of the journalist”)
and 258 (“Public disorder”) of the RA Criminal Code. The litigation started on
December 20, 2004 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, January 14-20, 2005). At the
session of February 4 the court made a verdict. Armen Vardanian, who pleaded
guilty on both episodes, was sentenced by the court to one year’s reformatory
labor. By the court ruling, he will continue working at the same place, but 20%
of his monthly salary will be subtracted in favor of the state budget. Besides,
Armen Vardanian compensated the cost of the tape recorder damaged equal to 25
thousand AMD (over $ 50) to “Haikakan Zhamanak” correspondent.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1907

The Government Adopted the Draft of Amendments to the RA Law “On Human Rights
Defender”

[10.02.2005]

The government adopted the draft of amendments to the RA law “On Human Rights
Defender”.

According to one of the amendments to be inserted the Ombudsman is not empowered
to intervene in the legal proceeding but can submit her proposals or
consultation to contest the court decision.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1908

The Parliament Is Changing the RA Constitution

[11.02.2005]

On February 2 the discussion of the Constitutional amendments resumed in NA. This work
will be done within the coming 2 weeks in the NA Committee of integrating into
the European Structures. Today the Committee referred to the first chapter of
the 3 draft constitutions which refers to the bases of the Constitutional order.



http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1909

Rights Ombudsman Slams Government Push To Curb Her Powers

[11.02.2005]

Armenia’s top official in charge of human rights protection criticized the
government on Friday for its intention to curtail her powers which local
watchdogs believe are already insufficient for combating widespread rights
abuses.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1910

Closed Armenian TV Denied Radio Broadcasts

[14.02.2005]

Armenia’s leading independent television station controversially forced off the
air almost three years ago suffered another blow to its hopes for survival on
Monday as its attempts to switch to radio broadcasts were blocked by a state
licensing body.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1911