Interfax, Russia
March 10 2009

Armenia needs democratic parties, not slogans – ombudsman

YEREVAN March 10

The human rights situation is critical in Armenia, the country’s Human
Rights Commissioner Armen Arutyunian has said.

Political authoritarianism has blighted most parties, both governing
and opposition, Arutyunian said in his annual report, presented on
Tuesday.

"Our society needs democratic parties, not democratic slogans.

Armenian society is better prepared for democratic reform than the
political systems. We must rid ourselves from the legacy of the
totalitarian past," he said.

The Armenian authorities have inherited a repressive system, which
rests on the prosecutor’s office and a special investigative service,
from the Soviet and post-Soviet period, the human rights commissioner
said.

"We receive lots of complaints about these two structures," he added.

Citizens’ legal culture is at the minimal level, he also said.

"The personality, not the law rules. People prefer to tackle their
problems through acquaintances, relatives and other connections, not
through courts, or law," Arutyunian said.

The time has come to draw a clear line between power and businesses,
he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress