ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN CALLS ON TO FORM INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE MARCH 1 CLASHES IN YEREVAN

ARKA
April 28, 2008

YEREVAN, April 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan has
made a special report calling on to form an independent commission
to investigate the March 1 clashes in Yerevan.

Since February 20 rallies, sit-ins and student walkouts had been held
by the opposition led by Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosian
in the center of Yerevan. The initiators and protesters accused
ex-President Kocharian’s ally and Serge Sargsian of rigging the
presidential election on February 19.

The clashes began on March 1-2 when authorities used force to clear
Freedom Square of thousands of demonstrators who had camped there
for the past 10 days. Over 100 people were charged after the bloody
clashes.

The Human Right Defender believes the February 19 polls have
influenced the system of individual rights, as well as social-economic,
political and human rights. In this connection, Harutyunyan considers
it necessary to assume public control over the authorities and the
strong opposition. According to him, in this case, the opposition
will not have to go to streets, as they will be able to openly voice
their opinion.

Harutyunyan calls on to amend the electoral code and change
the voting procedure. He believes objective electronic media and
pluralism are necessary preconditions for freedom of speech. In his
report, the Ombudsman attaches importance to amendments to media
regulations. Harutyunyan suggests forming a media coordinating body,
involving both authorities and opposition.

He calls on to lift restrictions on human rights and amend the
disputable law on rallies.

The Ombudsman believes extremism causes social polarization. "We need
to preclude causes instead of struggling against their aftermath,"
he says.

"The most dangerous and unreasonable thing we can do now is to pretend
effecting reforms."