ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 23 2006

FIDG PUBLISHES OVERVIEW OF MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN THE REPUBLIC
OF ARMENIA

The Republic of Armenia presents a contrasted picture as far as
respect for Human Rights is concerned, says a report drafted by the
FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) together with its
parner organization in Armenia, the Civil Society Institute..

On paper, they are pretty much a model for the South Caucasus region
as they have ratified most of the European Human Rights instruments
and conducted major law reforms in conformity with them.

However the following concerns are noticeable:

although the country showed exceptional growth over the last years,
the economic and social situation does not benefit equally to the
whole population. The failed transition from a soviet communist
system to a liberal economy created enormous disparity between an
elite group of persons or clans, who, on the one hand, monopolised
the majority of the resources, and the rest of the population on the
other. Although the country witnesses the emergence of a
middle-class, it is still at the very bottom of the social scale.

Furthermore, these new wealthy people, which are interrelated with
the spheres of political power, have instituted private armed
polices, thus subjecting the country and the citizens to tangible
threats and acts of violence, be they motivated by political or
economic reasons. In addition, the country witnesses a high level of
institutional corruption, endemic in the whole region.

Factual anti-democratic events are perceived as a growing and
threatening trend over rights and freedoms before crucial
parliamentary elections in 2007 and presidential election in 2008. A
population indifferent to internal politics, an ethnically
homogeneous country, a strong support from the Diaspora are all
factors that ease the ruling of the country but also enable abuses by
the holders of power. Political and economic powers enjoy impunity.