JOINT PRESS RELEASE
FIDH
·FIDH : Karine Appy / Gael Grilhot, + 33 1 43 55 25 18
·OMCT : Delphine Reculeau, + 41 22 809 49 39
·Civil Society Institute, +374 10 574317
ARMENIA: Human rights defender released
Paris-Geneva-Yerevan, October 20, 2009. The Observatory for the
Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the
International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and the World
Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), along with the Civil Society
Institute, Helsinki Citizen’s Assembly Vanadzor office, the Helsinki
Committee of Armenia, the Collaboration for Democracy centre,
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre, as well as the
Foundation against Violation of Law, welcome the release on bail of
human rights defender Arshaluys Hakobyan.
On October 16, 2009, the Court of First instance of Kentron and Nork
Marash Communities of Yerevan decided to release on bail Mr. Arshaluys
Hakobyan, a member of the Armenian Helsinki Association and press
photographer of the official website of the organisation
(), who had been in pre-trial detention for four
months. Immediately after the hearing, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan had to
sign a document by which he committed not to leave the area. He
eventually walked out of the court room free and the trial was
postponed pending complementary investigation.
On June 6, 2009 the Court of First Instance for Kentron and
Nork-Marash districts had placed Mr. Hakobyan in pre-trial
detention. His arrest followed his attempt to monitor the elections
for the Mayor of Yerevan together with a group of observers. After he
had filed a complaint to challenge denial to accede a polling station,
the police summoned him and eventually arrested him. Mr. Hakobyan was
charged with `violence against a Government representative’ pursuant
to Article 316 of the Criminal Code and trial started on September 16,
2009.
The aforementioned organisations welcome Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan’s
release, and thank all the persons, institutions and organisations who
intervened in his favour.
Nevertheless, our organisations deplore that Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan
remains charged with `violence against a Government
representative’. Our organisations urge the Armenian authorities to
put an end to any kind of harassment, including at the judicial level,
against Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan, in conformity with the provisions of
the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and with
international and regional human rights instruments ratified by
Armenia.
Our organisations also denounce that, in the course of arrest and
detention, Mr. Arshaluys Hakobyan was subjected to acts of
ill-treatment. Therefore we urge the Armenian authorities to order a
thorough, immediate, effective and impartial investigation into the
above-mentioned facts, the result of which must be made public, in
order to identify all those responsible, bring them before a
competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply to them the
sanctions provided by the law.
For further information, please contact:
·FIDH : Karine Appy / Gael Grilhot, + 33 1 43 55 25 18
·OMCT : Delphine Reculeau, + 41 22 809 49 39
·Civil Society Institute, +374 10 574317
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