ON POLITICAL PLANE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 23, 2008
Armenia

Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan responds to our questions?

`The proceedings on March 1 events are usually followed by demagogy
organized by the activists of the radical opposition. The latter as a
rule occupy the hall of the court and `spontaneously’ intimidate or
blackmail the judges with revolutionary slogans and abuses and, why
not, the witnesses – forcing them to refuse their testimony given
during the inquest. Isn’t it a pressure on the court?’

`Those who have little knowledge about law, civilization and democracy
understand that this phenomenon includes intolerable and even criminal
elements. And it is very bizarre, that certain Mass Media are very
proud of this behavior and they happily announce that this or that
judge appeared in a very bad situation and he was obliged to take
certain decisions and so on and so forth. The created situation has a
very bad impact not only on the ruling authorities but also the
opposition.

I don’t think any civilized person, including a representative of an
international organization will be inspired of the illegal activities
of the opposition. It is really a matter of concern, because in essence
they pursue a well-organized policy to hinder the work of the court.
Let alone their cynical expressions and abuses.’

`Doesn’t the state possess any levers to defend the judges from the
self-styled `defenders’ and demagogues?

`Of course it has and I don’t think that in such cases tolerance and
forbearance is justified. After all the court system has 800 court
managers at its command and in my view they must do their job. Moreover
they have recently taken the oath, so this is the right time for them
to fulfill their competences.’

`Isn’t it strange that the European structures, which usually give
lessons of democracy and lawfulness, don’t respond to the aggressive
manifestations of the radical activists?’

`Some international social organizations unequivocally condemn their
actions. But we shouldn’t sit and wait for the responses of the
international organizations. Their task is to estimate the actions of
the ruling authorities from the point of view of the protection of
human rights. Even if they touch upon this issue, there will be a
single assessment saying that the ruling authorities didn’t take
adequate measures to ensure the regular activity of the courts.’

`What is it that prevents them from ensuring this regular activity?’

`In my view the problem is on the political plane. Everyone understands
that it is intolerable and that the ruling authorities have the right
to interfere. But they don’t do it not to give another chance to the
opposition to destabilize the situation.’

L.P.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress