RA AUTHORITIES HAVE TO ENSURE INVESTIGATIONS INTO MARCH 1 EVENTS: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
news.am
Jan 21 2010
Armenia
International Human Rights Watch organization issued an annual world
report on human rights in 90 countries. NEWS.am posts the passages
devoted to Armenia.
"The Armenian authorities have yet to ensure meaningful investigations
into excessive use of police force during March 2008 clashes with
opposition supporters protesting alleged fraud in the previous month’s
presidential election, and address related allegations of abuse in
police custody. A number of opposition supporters reportedly remain
imprisoned in connection with the March 2008 events.
During May 2009 municipal elections in the capital, Yerevan,
international observers reported intimidation and attacks on domestic
observers and journalists.
Broadcasting law amendments bring greater transparency to the licensing
process, but an independent television station that has been off
air for over seven years remains without a new license despite a
European Court of Human Rights ruling in its favor. Authorities have
failed to conclusively investigate physical attacks on journalists,"
the report reads.
The following incidents are described, "While monitoring the May
Yerevan City Council elections, Arshaluys Hakobyan of the Armenian
Helsinki Association was expelled from a polling station. A few days
after filing a complaint about this incident with the authorities,
police appeared at his home to summon him for questioning. After
an argument over his signature on the summons, police arrested
Hakobyan for allegedly resisting authority. Hakobyan alleges he
was then beaten and ill-treated in custody. Although he filed a
complaint and testified to his ill-treatment during his September
trial on the charge of resisting authority, the police have failed
to comprehensively investigate the claim. Hakobyan remains in custody.
Mariam Sukhudyan, whose activism primarily relates to environmental
concerns, in November 2008 publicized on a national television
program the case of two girls who alleged sexual harassment at their
Yerevan school. Police charged Sukhudyan with falsely reporting a
crime. Human rights activists believe the charges are designed to
intimidate Sukhidyan in retaliation for her environmental work."