RA OMBUDSMAN CALLS MEDIA FOR EXERCISING CONTROL OVER "CASE OF SEVEN"

Noyan Tapan

Dec 12, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The monitoring of the March 1 cases
legal procedures held by RA Ombudsman’s Office shows that the proving
base of the prosecutor party is not convincing, as a rule, the courts
almost always defend prosecutor party’s approaches. RA Ombudsman Armen
Haroutiunian reported at the December 12 press conference. "My inner
conviction rather coincides with defence party’s approaches," the
Ombudsman said emphasizing that he welcomes the mercy and amnesty
institutions and considers that use of the two institutions is
expedient for coming out of the formed situation.

Nevertheless, the Ombudsman gives preference to amnesty.

According to Ombudsman’s estimation, the "case of seven" can become
a touchstone for country’s further development way, therefore
A. Haroutiunian has decided to constantly keep under monitoring
the process to start on December 19 and to make a statement in
the future only on basis of collision of defence and prosecutor
parties’ arguments and of judge’s position. He called the civil
society institution and media for constantly keeping the case under
control. "It is the case when all human rights structures, media with
their everyday consistent, professional activity, without shows can
achieve serious results in the respect of human rights protection,"
Armen Haroutiunian stated. Ombudsman’s representative will be present
at all court sittings on the case and the Ombudsman himself will be
present in some cases.