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| 17:26:55 | 27-04-2005 | Politics |

DAVID HAROUTYUNYAN AND THE OMBUDSMAN IN DIFFERENT FIELDS

«We do not limit the ombudsman’s authorities. We simply try to find out if
they correspond to the Constitution or not», announced Minister of Justice
David Haroutyunyan. According to the Minister, the opinion of any official
is a pressure on the Court. «Imagine an argument between two citizens or a
citizen and the community, and the ombudsman expressed opinion. If I am
asked questions about Court processions, I don’t answer. The opinion of the
Minister of Justice can affect the Court».

He also mentioned that his disagreement with the Ombudsman does not mean
that he underestimates the role of the Human Rights Defender. «I hope the
Ombudsman Institute will be taken into consideration during Constitutional
amendments and it will become a Parliamentary Institute», said the Justice
Minister.

Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan, to put it mildly, does not share Mr.
Haroutyunyan’s position. «They try to keep the Court away from the eye of
the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can demand information about any case in Court
to guarantee the defense of the rights of teh citizens in Court. We do not
speak about the details. That is, the Ombudsman will no how interfere with
the case. He will simply see to it that no encroachments are done towards
the rights of the people in Court».

According to Larissa Alaverdyan, in order to have an independent court we
must contribute to the realization of the court system my means of the
Ombudsman, as we do not have independent Judges.