Former POWs deprived of state support, says Armenian rights champion

Arminfo
2 Aug 04

YEREVAN

Former POWs and hostages do not receive proper state assistance in
Armenia, the head of the non-government Centre to protect the rights
of POWs, hostages and missing persons, Karine Minasyan, has told
Arminfo. Minasyan is also an Armenian coordinator of the
international working group to release POWs and to trace missing
persons and hostages in the zone of the Karabakh conflict.

“The state renders assistance, although insufficient, to the families
of missing persons, whereas the former POWs and hostages get nothing,”
Minasyan said. She added that these people were forced to experience
the rehabilitation process alone. In addition, she said, there is a
negative attitude by the state structures and the people surrounding
them. “I can call this the Stalin syndrome’. If you have been
captured, this means that you are a spy. That is why, the POWs rarely
manage to return to normal life. I know only a few cases of this
kind,” Minasyan said.

Minasyan stressed that the former disabled POWs are the exception as
they have been registered as disabled and get a small pension. “But if
you are not a serviceman and disabled, do not expect the state’s
assistance,” Minasyan said. She spoke about her plans to appeal to
the Armenian parliament and state structures to propose that a
relevant draft law be prepared. We should note that the Centre was
registered in April last year, operates with the help of volunteers
and closely cooperates with the international working group to release
POWs and to trace missing persons and hostages in the zone of the
Karabakh conflict.