IN ARMENIA, IT IS STATE THAT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS, LARISA ALAVERDIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 12, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "In Armenia, human rights violations
have a mass and regular character," the former ombudsperson of
Armenia, member of the National Assembly "Heritage" action Larisa
Alaverdian stated at the December 10 press conference. In her words,
in a normal country, the state protects the rights of its citizens,
whereas in Armenia, it is the state that violates the fundamental
human rights – partly through its connivance, partly by unnlawful
actions. L. Aleverdian noted that the unalwful actions of the state
reached their culmination during the March 1 events.

Besides, according to her, the authorities are trying to hinder
the work of the Ombudsman, thus opposing the protection of human
rights. As regards the statement of the former Armenian president
Robert Kocharian to the effect that the RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunian
is the most unsuccessful employee appointed by him, L. Alaverdian
said that such a statement about an ombudsman has been unprecedented
in international practice. "There is no country where the authorities
reproach the ombudsman in such an unfounded way," she underlined.

Speaking about women’s rights, she said that the field of opportunities
for men and women is not equal in Armenia today. She condemned the
fact that jobs are not given intentionally even to women with higher
education. "On the one hand the Armenian society gives geniuses,
on the other hand it has some manifestations of backwardness," she
said. In her opinion, to prevent a woman from making herself a career
is a treacherous phenomenon.