OMBUDSMAN RENDERS A PRESS CONFERENCE

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[03:55 pm] 31 May, 2006

On the hundredth day of his office RA second Ombudsman Armen
Haroutyunyan rendered a press conference to inform the society about
what he has done.

During the three months of his office Armen Haroutyunyan received
about 770 complaints half of which has been qualified as “beyond
the authorizations of the Ombudsman”, As for how many citizens have
restored their rights, the Ombudsman mentioned that he will give
correct figures in about six months.

As for the complaints, the RA citizens mainly complain of the violation
of their rights in courts, in the Yerevan municipality, the police,
and the administrations of realty and cadastre. The majority of the
complaints refer to social-economic issues.

What has the Ombudsman managed to do during these three months? He has
made about 15 visits to the region where there are no representatives
of the Ombudsman.

By the way, Armen Haroutyunyan finds it normal that Armenia as not
included in the UN Human Rights Defense Council this year.

THE OMBUDSMAN ACCEPTED THE SHORTCOMINGS AND PROMISED TO MEND THEM

Despite the fact that numerous newspapers published the threats of
deputy Alexander Sargsyan, the brother of RA Defense Minister Serge
Sargsyan towards the correspondent of the newspaper “Iravounq”, Armen
Haroutyunyan did not make an announcement protecting the journalist
and the freedom of speech.

The RA second Ombudsman explains that he must receive a written
application in order to take up business.

Nevertheless, he accepted that in this case he has acted not
properly and promised to fill in the gap within a few days making an
announcement in this connection.

THE PROBLEM OF “HERITAGE” HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OMBUDSMAN

Yesterday Armen Haroutyunyan received a letter from Raffi Hovannisian,
leader of the party “Heritage” about the problems with the office of
the party. The application was titled “Information about crime”. This
allowed Armen Haroutyunyan to announce that the Ombudsman does not
engage in the investigation of “crimes” and they have decided to
send the letter to the corresponding structures which will take up
the case of the “crime”.

According to the law, the Ombudsman has the right to resend his
letters with the agreement of the sender.

Armen Haroutyunyan informed that Raffi Haroutyunyan is not against.