COURT REJECTS PARTY’S CLAIM AGAINST POLICE

Panorama.am
15:07 17/10/06

District court of Yerevan rejected today the claim of New Times
Party Chairman Aram Karapetyan against the Armenian police. Karapetyan
claimed that the police have violated the Law on Freedom of Information
by refusing to supply with requested information.

Armenian police posted information in its web site on May 2, 2005
saying 8 out of 21 interviewed people close to New Times Party and its
chairman Aram Karapetyan have criminal records. The police interviewed
the mentioned people in relation to a clash during a demonstration
organized by New Times Party in Sevan.

Hayots Ashkhar (Armenian World) newspaper cited this information
in its September 8, 2006 issue saying the real criminals are around
Aram Karapetyan. The newspaper said that in relation to Karapetyan"s
recent statements as part of anti-criminal initiative.

So, Karapetyan applied to the Armenian police requiring to name the
persons who have criminal records and are in his close team. New Times
Party says that the police information posted in the mentioned site
is inaccurate as only 3 not 8 people involved in the demonstration
have criminal records.

The court rejected Aram Karapetyan’s claim based on point 2, item
1 of article 8 of the Freedom of Information Law which prohibits to
unveil information on somebody’s private life.

New Times Party says they will check the supporting argument and if
it is true each member of New Times Party will require information
about himself/herself.

The party also says they reacted to the police information so late
because their site has not affect on public opinion whereas the
newspaper does. The party also believes that the pro-government
newspaper, Hayots Ashkhar, deliberately discredits Aram Karapetyan
because of his affiliation to anti-criminal movement.