NEITHER PACE NOR OMBUDSMAN SAW PROGRESS

A1+
[07:34 pm] 05 February, 2009

"The PACE Monitoring Committee is keeping an eye on the Republic of
Armenia and that implies our defeat. This means that the situation of
human rights is not good in Armenia," told "A1+" today RA Ombudsman
Armen Harutyunyan.

He doesn’t think that the PACE Resolution 1643 on Armenia is a victory.

"Even if they haven’t applied sanctions, we still have problems
because human rights protection is not at a sufficient level."

As for the statements made by the authorities according to which the
PACE noticed progress in the fulfillment of Resolutions 1609 and 1620
and that is why it did not suspend the Armenian delegation’s voting
rights, Harutyunyan said:

"The PACE didn’t see any progress and I didn’t see any progress
either. It is clearly stated in Resolution 1643 that they haven’t
applied any sanctions because Armenia has decided to make changes to
articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code to solve the propositions
stated in Resolutions 1609 and 1620."

Armen Harutyunyan underscored that the issues raised in Resolutions
1609 and 1620, which the Armenian authorities haven’t done anything
to solve, are included in Resolution 1643. The human rights defender
wasn’t able to say what effect the changes to articles 225 and 300
of the Criminal Code would have on the "Case of Seven" and the cases
of other political prisoners, for that matter.

"It is unacceptable to continue to impede the legal proceedings
in court, but refusal to stand up is not a reason for removing the
culprits."

Harutyunyan believes that the judge could have fined the culprits of
the "Case of Seven" who refused to stand up and continue the case.

The Ombudsman’s office continues to visit the penitentiaries, but
only one of the cases of violence in the cells has been followed-up on.

"According to the official version, Grigor Voskerchyan was not
smacked, but pushed and the one responsible for that has received
a warning. We have registered acts of violence in cell 36 of the
Nubarashen penitentiary, but people are scared and remain silent."

The Ombudsman will present his annual report in March in which he
will present in detail the state of human rights in Armenia which,
in a word, is critical.