ARMENIAN PRESIDENT APPROVES ORDER OF CREATION OF FACT-FINDING GROUP AND ORGANIZATION OF ITS ACTIVITIES
Noyan Tapan
Oct 23, 2008
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
on October 23 signed an instruction on approval of the order of
the creation of a fact-finding group and the organization of its
activities.
THE ORDER OF CREATION OF A FACT-FINDING GROUP AND ORGANIZATION OF
ITS ACTIVITIES (extracts)
1. The fact-finding group of experts (henceforth the Group) carries
out the collection of facts for revealing the causes of of the
events that took place in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. The aim of
the activities of the Group to assist the ad hoc committee set up
under the RA National Assembly’s N-086-4 decision of June 16, 2008
(henceforth the Committee) with the performance of its tasks.
4. The purpose of the Group’s activities is to discover facts,
documents and information and to submit them to the Committee in
order to ensure:
1) the examination of the causes of the events that took place in
Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008,
2) the assessment of legality and adequacy of police decisions and
actions during the events,
3) the disclosure of the circumstances of the deaths of people during
those events.
5. In implementing its goals and tasks, the Group has the right:
1) to request and receive the necessary materials and documents on
the events, regardless of the form and type of the material object,
from any state or local self-government bodies or their officials,
2) to receive explanations on the events from state or local
self-government bodies or their officials and state servants, except
for courts and judges,
3) to receive documents and explanations from natural persons and
organizations, in case of their consent,
7) to involve specialists, including foreign experts, in the
fact-finding activity,
9) to apply to the mass media, radio and television companies with the
request to be provided information, including video and audio records
and other materials that may be related to the March 1-2 events.
6. The officials of state and local self-government bodies shall
present the required materials and documents concerning their
competence, as well as any information on the events without hindrance
and within a reasonable period.
9. The officials and employees of state or local self-government bodies
to be invited to the Group’s sittings must answer the questions of
the Group’s members and give explanations.
10. The natural persons or representatives of private organizations
to be invited to sittings have the right to answer questions and give
explanations. The Group’s members must keep secret the indentity of
the person who has provided explanations.
11. The group is composed of five members.
12. The members of the Group are proposed by the ruling political
coalition, "Heritage" party and the political force led by Levon
Ter-Petrosian: two members are proposed by the ruling political
coalition, one by "Heritage" party, and one by the political force
led by Levon Ter-Petrosian. One member of the Group is proposed by
the RA ombudsman.
14. A person who has authority and experience in jurisprudence and
does not hold a post in state or local self-government bodies may
be appointed a member of the Group. The Group’s member may not be a
deputy of the National Assembly, member of a party or political force.
19. The Group’s work throughout its activities is not subject to
coverage.
Closed-door sittings shall be held. By a decision of the Group,
qualified authoritative international expert(s) may be involved as
advisor(s) in the work of the Group.
As a result of implementation of its tasks, the Group presents a report
to the Committee. The report may contain a special opinion. The report
shall be published in order established by the Group.