1. Political Prisoners. International and local organizations about
the Human Rights Situation in Armenia



a. Head of OSCE Office Welcomes Release of Some Armenian
Opposition Members

[ 04.06.2004 ]

The Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, welcomed
the release from custody of two members of the opposition Republic party,
Aramazd Zakaryan and Jora Sapeyan, and the withdrawal of charges against them.
He also welcomed the news that a board member of the Republic party, Suren
Surenyants, has been released from custody, although he must not leave the
country pending investigation.

"We believe this step will facilitate political dialogue between the opposition
and the ruling coalition and will contribute to stability in the country,"
Ambassador Pryakhin said in an interview with Radio Liberty.

"At the same time, we note with concern that not all cases of those detained in
connection with the recent demonstrations were reviewed."

With regard to a recent decision of the Yerevan Mayor's Office to prohibit
rallies by opposition parties on 4 June, Ambassador Pryakhin said:

"We regret that the right of people to free assembly and expression of their
political views was restricted. We urge the authorities to apply the new law on
Conduct of Public Gatherings, Rallies, Demonstrations and Marches in a
proportionate and justified manner and make efforts to further improve this
essential piece of legislation."

He stressed that the OSCE Office will continue to closely monitor the political
developments in Armenia and to support the country in the process of
democratization. He emphasized in particular the need for electoral and
constitutional reform.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=guest&id=51



b. Statement Regarding the Court Trial on Edgar
Arakelyan

[02.06.2004]

Human Right Defense Prompt Response Group released the following statement
regarding the court trial on Edgar Arakelyan.



On May 26, 2004, the Court of First Instance of Center-Nork Marash District of
Yerevan finished hearing the case of Edgar Arakelyan- participant of April 13
rally on Baghramyan Avenue, Yerevan. Judge Ohanyan sentenced him to imprisonment
for 1.5 year.



In the nights of April 13, policemen, dispersing the rally, brutally beat Edgar
Arakelyan and broke his teeth. Edgar, in a self-defense, threw a plastic bottle
at a policeman. This action resulted as a base for the court verdict. After the
arrest Edgar was sadistically beaten in Erebuni Police Department of Yerevan.
Then he was again beaten in Municipal Police Department of Yerevan.



Later, investigators in the General Prosecutor’s Office extorted testimony from
Edgar by threatening and cursing him. The Court didn’t take into account the
fact of torture of Edgar Arakelyan, although it had to launch impartial
investigation over the fact of torture in accordance with Articles 11, 12, 13 of
the UN Convention “Against Punishment, Tortures and Other Brutal or Demeaning
Treatment”.

The Court verdict proved once more lack of justice in Armenia, and that the
Criminal Code is a tool in the hands of the authorities.



We, the undersigned, express our support to Edgar Arakelyan and state that
neither trials nor tortures can mislead our people from their way to democracy
and freedom.



Human Right Defense Prompt Response Group


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1728

c. “Release the political prisoners”

[03.06.2004]

”I turn on the TV set to listen to some news but nothing is said. I can’t pay
1200 drams daily to come to Yerevan”, Gurgen Soghomonyan, Hoktember villager of
Armavir District said during the protest action held at General Office of
Prosecutor.

66-year-old Gurgen has twice been taken to Police Department for participation
in rallies and was arrested for 10 days for “showing ribaldry to policemen”.
Soghomonyan says he hasn’t even met a policeman. “I was just walking in
Yerevan”.

The protest action demanding to set the political prisoners free continues near
General Office of Prosecutor. Representatives of some social organizations
assemble near Office of Prosecutor every day at 10:00 AM. 6500 people have
already signed in support of the political prisoners. “Justice” Bloc
representatives as well joined the participants.

“Justice” Bloc Press Secretary Ruzan Khachatryan says she partakes in the action
as a citizen of Armenia and not as the party representative. According to her,
every time before rallies the number of the arrested people increases. “Before
rallies Authorities start resorting to violence, arrests and menaces. It’s their
manner of activity”.

As known, Yerevan Municipality forbade Opposition to hold a rally in the square
near Matenadaran on June 4. The First Instance Court of Kentron, Norq-Marash
Commune left the decision unchanged.

Ruzan Khachatryan says they are going to appeal against the decision in the
Appeal Court. However, Khachatryan says the meeting will take place.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1734

d. Political Prisoner Vagharshak Harutyunyan’s
Pretrial Detention Extended For Two Months

[07.06.2004]

On Monday, at its closed-door session, Center Nork-Marash first instance court
satisfied the prosecution plea to extend General-Lieutenant Vagharshak
Harutyunyan’s pretrial detention for two months.

Vagharshak Harutyunyan is charged with attempting coup, making seditious calls
and insulting the authorities and can face up to 19 years in jail if convicted.


Protest of Harutyunyan’s attorney Robert Grigoryan hasn’t been heard in a clear
breach of the law. The court made its Monday’s decision without considering the
protest, because the accused “can be dangerous if released”.

No exact wrongdoing is pointed out by the prosecution side so far. Only the
counts Harutyunyan charged with are indicated.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1736

e. Vladimir Pryakhin Hopes Vagharshak Harutyunyan To
Be Released From Jail Soon

[08.06.2004]

Robert Grigoryan, the lawyer of General-Lieutenant and former Armenian Defense
Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan meet with OSCE Ambassador in Armenia Vladimir
Pryakhin on Tuesday.

The meeting was initiated by Vladimir Pryakhin.

Grigoryan told Pryakhin that his client is charged with attempting a coup,
making seditious calls and insulting the authorities. But actually no exact
wrongdoing is mentioned and presumption of innocence is violated, he said.

“Instead of proving his fault, they want him to prove his innocence”, Grigoryan
said.

Pryakhin get familiar with the case and expressed hope that Vagharshak
Harutyunyan would be freed soon.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1741



f. Edgar Arakelyan Case Sent To Appeal Court

[08.06.2004]

Lawyer of Edgar Arakelyan, who was sentenced to a year and six months for
hitting a policeman with empty plastic bottle, filed a motion to the Court of
Appeal on Tuesday.

He is asking to reconsider the case and, taking into account his client’s
repentance, to replace the punishment with not so severe one: to fine him or
give him suspended sentence.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1742



g. Surenyantc was released

[03.06.2004]

Suren Surenyantc, member of “Republic” Party political board and Editor-in-Chief
of “Republic” electronic newspaper was released from “Yerevan-Center” jail.

He was set free under the decision of the investigator. The criminal case wasn’t
suppressed. Only the preventive punishment – 2 month-long, changed.

Health state of Surenyantc has recently grown worse. In particular his eye-
sight became worse. Yesterday he had a heart seizure, which lasted for 15
minutes even after medical intervention.

Surenyantc was released as a result of his regret. Solicitations of Armenian
Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan, Surenyantc’s Advocate Robert Grigoryan and
Surenyantc’s health as well supported his release. Surenyantc promised not to
make speeches in the meetings.

When Authorities extort promises from political figures not to partake in the
rallies, it becomes clear that they were taken in detention just for
participation in the meetings


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1731

h. Ashot Zakaryan Faces Trial

[07.06.2004]

Republic party member and Armenian Gyumri town resident Ashot Zakaryan stood
trial on Monday.

Zakaryan is former Gyumri’s military police officer, who has been sacked for his
political views at pre-election period of time. Now he is charged with
hooliganism and disorderly conduct. The accused has been present at a rally in
Gyumri, during which an incident occurred. Zakaryan has alleged pushed Arthur
Sahakyan.

Sahakyan and two witnesses testified at today’s hearing that Zakaryan has just
slightly jogged Sahakyan unintentionally. Their testimonies differed from those
giving at preliminary inquiry.

Republic party leader Albert Bazeyan was present at today’s court session. The
courtroom was overcrowded. People welcomed the defendant by applauding when he
was brought to the courtroom.

The hearing was interrupted at the stage of debates and will be continued on
Tuesday at 16:00.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1737

2. Freedom of Assembly

Unauthorized Rally Taken Place in Yerevan

[04.06.2004]

The rally did take place despite Yerevan municipality statement that it hasn’t
authorised it because of some information about expected provocations and
possible threat to people’s lives.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1735

3. Freedom of Media and Broadcasting.
Violation of journalists rights.

a. A1+ TV Company Suit Against Armenian Government To Be
Heard In European Human Rights Court Soon

[08.06.2004]

“The process has already started.Let's see what will be”, Mesrop Movsesyan, the
head of A1+ TV Company that had been stripped of its broadcasting license two
years ago, said Tuesday speaking at a news conference in the House of
Journalists.

Mesrop Movsesyan and Tigran Ter-Yesayan, the Chair of the Lawyers International
Union, said at the news conference that European Human Rights Court has already
decided to start hearing A1+ suit filed in 2002 October against Armenian
government.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1740

b. Armenian TV channels refrain from covering
protest action

[04.06.2004]

Every-day protest action outside the Prosecutor General Office in Yerevan
continued Friday. Protesters keep on demanding a number of political prisoners
to be released from jail.

Only Aravot TV Company is highlighting the event.

Armenia’s other TV channels prefer to keep silence about that, despite the
organisations that staged the piquet have repeatedly invited crews from all TVs.



http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1733

    c. Investigation on the Assaults on Journalists on
April 5 Over

[03.06.2004]

The Prosecutor’s Office of Yerevan completed the investigation on the case of
assaults on journalists during the opposition rally of April 5. As it has been
reported, the media representatives were attacked by a group of “strong young
guys”, when they were trying to record them throwing eggs at rally participants
(see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, April 2-8, 2004). The two of the
attackers involved in the case, the unemployed Ashot Avetisian (Yerevan) and
Hrair Harutiunian (Artashat), have pleaded guilty (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
May 7-13, 2004). They are now charged by Article 185 (“Premeditated destruction
or spoilage of property”) of the RA Criminal Code. As a preventive punishment
they were obliged not to leave the places of permanent residence.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1744



4. Freedom of Information

"Investigative Journalists" Lodges Claim against Yerevan Municipality

[06.06.2004]

On June 9, the minor court of Yerevan's Center and Nork Marash communities is to
start hearing a claim lodged by the "Investigative Journalists" organization
against the Yerevan Municipality. According to the organization's statement
provided to ARMINFO, on April 14, Chairman of the organization E. Baghdasaryan
lodged claim with the minor court of the Center and Nork-Marash communities
against Yerevan Mayor Yervand Zakharyan, who rejected the organization's inquiry
for decisions made by the Yerevan Municipality in 1997-2003. Specifically, the
investigative journalists are interested in the legality of Yerevan Mayors'
decisions allotting the green zones nearby the National Theater of Opera and
Ballet for a number of cafes. After the journalists addressed a complaint to
President Robert Kocharian, Mayor Yervand Zakharyan did not provide the
information. The "Investigative Journalists" public organization hopes that
court will oblige the plaintiff to observe the law.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1738

5. Domestic Violence

Every Third Armenian Woman Subjected To Violence

[07.06.2004]

Every third Armenian woman has been subjected to physical or psychological
violence at least once in her life, Iren Sargsyan, Coordinator of the gender
program against violence, USAID Intra/PRIME, told ARMINFO.

According to her, an anonymous interview conducted under the program testifies
that 46% of 1,457 respondents were subjected to psychological, 21% to physical,
17% to economic, 13% to sexual pressure. Two per cent of the women were raped
before marriage. The interview results show that the women do not normally apply
to law-enforcers. Sargsyan said that Armenian women from traditional families
"hate washing their dirty linen in public." Sargsyan said that the "Hope" center
has been opened for men and women that were subjected to violence. They can
consult psychologists and, if necessary, receive medical assistance.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1739

6. Othet events

Human Rights school building technical designs tender-exhibition

[03.06.2004]

On 3 June 2004, at 12.00, the exhibition of the works presented within the
framework of the Human Rights School building technical designs tender opened in
the National Museum-Institute of Architecture of Armenia, which was lasted
up to June 7.

Representatives of state and self-governing bodies, local and international
organizations and individuals acting in the Human Rights field, architects,
representatives of constructional and non-governmental organizations and other
interested people were invited.

In December 2003 ACRPC announced a tender of the Human Rights School building
technical designs. Twenty two architects from Armenia and the Mountainous
Karabakh applied for participation.


http://new.csi.am/eng/index1.php?goto=news&id=1732