Armenian ombudsman displeased with new bill

Armenian ombudsman displeased with new bill

Aravot web site, Yerevan
11 Feb 05

A government session held yesterday and chaired by President Robert
Kocharyan discussed and approved draft amendments to the law “On
human rights defender”.

Under the draft law, the ombudsman cannot interfere in court trials
but can advise the plaintiff on appealing against the court verdict.

During the discussions Armenian ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan asked to
allow her to put forward her position. But the president interrupted
her rudely: “The ombudsman has the right to ask questions but not
to interfere.”

Larisa Alaverdyan walked out of the session after this. In an interview
with an Aravot correspondent, the human rights defender said that
she considered this amendment to be unreasonable.