Poland’s Pol-Mot Holding in talks over tractor plant in Armenia

Intellinews
Wednesday
Poland's Pol-Mot Holding in talks over tractor plant in Armenia
 
 
Poland's Pol-Mot Holding has held talks with Armenian government officials on setting up a plant to produce Ursus tractors in Armenia.
 
A delegation from the agricultural equipment manufacturer, led by its deputy director Marek Pol, discussed the plans with Armenia's Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan on December 14, according to a statement posted on Avinyan's Facebook page.
 
The company is interested in setting up production at the existing Slatsk factory in Vanadzor.
 
"I am glad that serious steps are being taken to establish cooperation. I added that the government attaches great importance to the work with foreign investors and will support the activities of Pol-Mot Armenia," Avinyan said.
 
"During the meeting, we also touched upon the possibilities of cooperation in other spheres. In particular, taking into account the fact that Paul-Near Hodlins also produces Ursus Bus electric and diesel buses, we discussed the possibility of producing buses in Armenia."

Armenia urges further gas imports from Iran

IRNA – Iran
Dec 19 2018
 
Armenia urges further gas imports from Iran
 
 
Tehran: The official news agency of Iran (IRNA) has issued following news: Armenian Ambassador to Iran Artashes Tumanyan said on Monday that his country is interested to import more gas from Iran. Addressing a meeting themed ‘Iran-Armenia Ties, Opportunities and Challenges', he added that recent political development in Yerevan have had no impact on the country's foreign policy. He also voiced his country's readiness for increasing exports of electricity to Iran, hoping that the two countries' exchanges would rise in near future.
As to Washington's pressure on Yerevan to reduce relations with Iran, he said, “The US has talked with Armenia about Tehran-Yerevan ties, as they have understood that Tehran relations are of high significance for us.” Meanwhile, Chairman of Iran-Armenia Friendship Society Mohammad Reza Damavandi complained that despite high historic and political relations in the cultural and media fields, the two countries have failed to widen their relations to desirable levels. While Tehran and Yerevan have set a target of one billion dollars, they have had only 200 to 250 million dollars in trade exchanges, he said.

Beirut: Tashnaq Brushes Off ‘Armenian Obstacle’ Claims ahead of Govt. Formation

Naharnet, Lebanon
Wednesday
Tashnaq Brushes Off 'Armenian Obstacle' Claims ahead of Govt. Formation
 
 
The Tashnaq party MP Hagop Pakradounian said there was no obstacle related to the "Armenian representation" as circulated in the media, but affirmed the party's right for getting a portfolio.
 
"There is no obstacle regarding the Armenian representation. It is our normal right to get a portfolio. The tourism ministry is going to remain with us, mainy with (current caretaker tourism minister) Avedis Guidanian ," said Pakradounian in a statement to MTV.
 
Meanwhile, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim "informed the leadership of the Tashnaq Party that the Ministry of Tourism would be allocated to a party representative of the Tashnaq, Avedis Guidanian."
 
Ongoing efforts continued on Thursday in a bid to complete an "initiative" mediated by Ibrahim between the various Lebanese parties.
 
Naharnet 2018

Azerbaijan Pushed to Jump the Gun? Is Armenia Starting?

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 20 2018

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the arms race must be prevented in the region, commenting on the sale of weapons to Azerbaijan, noting that while this is business for one country, it is a deadly instrument for our people. As is known, Russia described the sale of ammunition to Azerbaijan as business, in answer to the concerns of the Armenian side, and recently the president of Belarus Lukashenko has stated that this is business, and if the Armenians agree, he is ready to sell weapons to Armenians. Lukashenko said they he had proposed by Armenia refused, saying that it has Iskander rockets.

The comment of the spokesperson for the Armenian ministry of foreign affairs seems to be clear but the problem needs clarification. In particular, is this the official position of Yerevan to stop the race of ammunition in the region?

The point is that the representatives of the Armenian government expressed this thought two years ago, after the April war. Later the deputy foreign minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan spoke about it in one of his interviews with the European media.

Kocharyan said it is worth discussing the issue of total ban on weapons to the sides of the conflict. At the same time, he said it was his personal opinion. In other words, this was not a formal point of the policy of Yerevan.

It was a little strange, as well as it was strange that different officials in Yerevan stated that Azerbaijan is a terrorist state while the foreign minister and president of Armenia went on to discuss something with a terrorist state.

The ammunition race in the region intensified after Azerbaijan got the big chance provided by oil dollars. Baku started spending billions on buying ammunition. To say that Azerbaijan was getting armed only against Artsakh and Armenia to resolve the problems with weapons would be only one aspect of the issue.

No doubt Baku had such a purpose or is looking at this purpose. At the same time, Azerbaijan realizes that even if there is immense ammunition, obtaining the geopolitical right to use it will be essential. And here the problems become more deep and diverse. Azerbaijan achieved some success ahead of the April war in 2016 but, obviously, the success was not complete, and it was due to this that Azerbaijan did not go for putting to use its huge ammunition advantage.

The problem is not that Aliyev was stopped by deaths. Aliyev would have never stopped because of deaths. Aliyev did not go for larger scales because he did not have the geopolitical approval for that, he still does not have and most probably will not have in the nearest future. The reasons are many. Aliyev got the right to a blitzkrieg with Russia’s support, being well-aware that this agreement contains a bilateral “hidden intention” to let each other down. At the end of the day, both were “let down” by the Armenian army which crushed the hopes that the political wing of the ruling elite or rather wings, the governmental and the so-called non-governmental, had generated through its political and diplomatic shortcomings.

At the same time, the other two co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, especially Washington, encouraged Azerbaijan and Russia to jump the gun in order to discharge the regional situation.

Had Armenia had a legitimate government, after the April war the Armenian side would use the Azerbaijani-Russian mistake to gain substantial political-military positions.

Serzh SArgsyan did some things but as long and as much as his legitimacy allowed, as well as the issue of retention of power in 2011-2018. There was a possibility for more but there was not the essential for this, a great public legitimacy.

At the same time, at a quite crucial moment the police station standoff occurred further deepening the issue of legitimacy.

These circumstances led to the freezing of the situation, and it is not accidental that Baku was able to stop the series of meetings after Saint Petersburg, and the next one took place only 18 months later in Geneva where already the agenda of Vienna and Saint Petersburg were not mentioned.

The issue of ban on the race of weapons is perhaps one that could have been promoted after the April war. It is not too late. After all, this issue does not only worry or threaten Armenia and Artsakh. Azerbaijan’s spending of billions have other, maybe no less important purposes. Aliyev is trying to boost its potential to that of a regional power, on the one hand, imposing a pace of race that is beyond the ability of Yerevan, on the other hand, talking to the centers of power from a different angle.

Yerevan has potential interlocutors and has a possibility and goal to start a process of unfreezing the situation.

‘I had the impression that Lukashenko was satisfied with my responses, but I don’t know what happened’: Nikol Pashinyan

Aravot, Armenia
Dec 20 2018
‘I had the impression that Lukashenko was satisfied with my responses, but I don’t know what happened’: Nikol Pashinyan

“Lukashenko keeps mentioning what he said, but he neglects to talk about what I said. When they asked me to talk in detail about what we said during that discussion, I said that I cannot talk about it because I do not find it right to present the details of a closed session. But I also said that I am satisfied with the discussions. I will also say now that I am satisfied with those discussions, and I do not see the need to continue this discussion from my end. It is possible that there will be people who are not satisfied with this discussion, and that is why they need to talk about it,” Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told reporters in Dilijan regarding the controversial statements made by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Regarding Lukashenko’s criticism that Pashinyan does not dare to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin for selling the most weapons to Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan said, “I assure that I gave correct and impressive responses to all of Lukashenko’s questions. I had the impression that Lukashenko was satisfied with my responses, but I don’t know what happened afterwards.”

Lukashenko accused Nikol Pashinyan of not daring to criticize Vladimir Putin a few days ago.

Arpine Simonyan

Pashinyan on Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting: ‘Which country’s Electoral Code will be used?’

Aravot, Armenia
Dec 20 2018
Pashinyan on Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting: ‘Which country’s Electoral Code will be used?’

Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the issue of Armenian citizens in foreign countries voting during the opening of the “Neruzh” project in Dilijan. One of the participants, who has lived in Canada for the past ten years, asked if the new government will create an opportunity for Armenian citizens living outside of Armenia to vote.

Pashinyan assured that the current system needs to continue. “Because, for example, if we want all citizens living in Russia to have the opportunity to vote, then we need to lead in accordance with the Armenian Electoral Code as well as the Russian one. This means that we need to have one voting station for every 2,000 voters. And if we do that, then it will become clear that there are more voting stations outside of Armenia than inside.”

Pashinyan said that this is not technically possible, since Armenia does not have a consulate in Chelyabinsk or Tyumen, for example. Armenian citizens living in Tyumen will need to travel to Moscow or St. Petersburg to vote. “And if they have to go all that way, they should come to Armenia to vote. The best option is for Armenian citizens to be in Armenia to vote.”

Nelly Babayan

Sports: Armenian athletes to take part in the European Youth Olympics Festival

Panorama, Armenia
Dec 20 2018

Armenian athletes are set to participate at the 2019 Winter European Youth Olympics Festival (EYOF 2019) which will take place in the Olympic host city Sarajevo & East Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The event will take place from 9 to 16 February 2019 and will bring together some 1500 athletes from 50 countries to compete in eight sports.

As the National Olympic Committee reports, at the instruction of the Chairman of the Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan a central headquarters was formed to coordinate the preparation of the Armenian athletes for the competition, including addressing issues related to the necessary sport equipment and organizing training camps.

According to the source, Armenia will be represented by five athletes, figure skater Marina Asoyan, alpine skiers Mayis Yeghiazaryan and Zhirayr Arakelyan, biathlonists Aghasi Sakayan and Anna Rashoyan among them. 

Sports: Armenia to hold a four-day cycling race in 2019

MediaMax, Armenia
Dec 20 2018
Armenia to hold a four-day cycling race in 2019
Deputy Director of Armenian Cycling Federation Martin Sharbatyan has revealed that they plan to hold a four-day cycling race among junior athletes in 2019.
“It will consist of 11 stages and carry the name Tour de Armenia. We want to invite 10 teams from other countries. Of course, we’re going to need a substantial sum, around AMD 15 million, but we’ll try to make it happen,” he told the press.

Sharbatyan emphasized that the federation has discussed the initiative with acting Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs of Armenia Gabriel Ghazaryan, who he gave the approval.

F18News: AZERBAIJAN: Six years already, nearly six months more

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=ELlwrhlzapz7r3S461uMOidxtqdBwHnxLoayvgRtU2s&e=

The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one's belief or religion
The right to join together and express one's belief

=================================================

Thursday 
AZERBAIJAN: Six years already, nearly six months more

Rearrested days before a six year jail term for protesting against a ban on
schoolgirls wearing headscarves ended, Telman Shiraliyev was sentenced to
an additional nearly six month term. "The trial was short and took place
without a lawyer as his family is too poor to afford one," human rights
defender Elshan Hasanov told Forum 18.

AZERBAIJAN: Six years already, nearly six months more
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2440&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=_ydQxUczAgeCuNsiyEYm991gxAjvGPAPorl05nico70&e=
By Felix Corley, Forum 18

A court in the capital Baku has today (20 December) handed an extra jail
term of nearly six months to Telman Shiraliyev, a 37-year-old Shia Muslim
prisoner of conscience and father of two. He has already spent six years in
prison for participating in a 2012 street protest against a ban on
schoolgirls wearing a hijab (headscarf) which was attacked by police.

In late September, one week before his scheduled release at the end of his
six-year term, prosecutors accused Shiraliyev of hiding a knife under his
pillow. Prisoners are forbidden from having knives. Human rights defenders
reject this accusation.

"The trial was short and took place without a lawyer as his family is too
poor to afford one," Elshan Hasanov, Coordinator of the Union for the
Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan, told Forum 18 from Baku after
the hearing. "The witnesses were the prison warders."

Hasanov – who was denied entry to the small courtroom because there was
no space – insists that Shiraliyev is "absolutely innocent". He said that
in testimony to the court, the warders denied that they had found a knife
in Shiraliyev's possession (see below).

Fellow human rights defender Oqtay Gulaliyev also insists that Shiraliyev
is innocent. "l think the criminal case launched against him is a violation
of the law and groundless," he told Forum 18. "We think that his term of
punishment was extended because he did not sign the amnesty application
offered by government officials in May" (see below).

Two Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors from western Azerbaijan have
failed in their appeals to Ganca Appeal Court to overturn their one-year
suspended prison terms for refusing compulsory military service on grounds
of conscience. Both must report regularly and are under travel
restrictions. Emil Mehdiyev has appealed to the Supreme Court in Baku,
while Vahid Abilov is preparing his Supreme Court appeal (see below).

Forum 18 asked the Human Rights Ombudsperson's Office in Baku what action
(if any) it had taken to defend the rights of Mehdiyev and Abilov. It also
asked what action (if any) it had taken to push for the adoption of a law
to allow for those who have conscientious objections to military service to
perform a civilian alternative service, which Azerbaijan committed to
introduce by 2003. The Ombudsperson's Office has not responded (see below).

Two female Jehovah's Witness former prisoners of conscience, Irina
Zakharchenko and Valida Jabrayilova, finally received financial
compensation for their wrongful one-year detention in 2015 for offering a
religious booklet to a neighbour and subsequent conviction by the same
judge who convicted Shiraliyev. Payment of the compensation followed a long
battle through local courts (see below).

Legal amendments imminent?

Azerbaijan imposes tight restrictions on all exercise of the right to
freedom of religion or belief.
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2429&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=bcSYf5nbynektbRE1-0_E4Kp10BrnJPMnKnqHCsEJ84&e=)

The State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations has prepared
amendments to the Religion Law which are now with the Presidential
Administration for approval. They are expected to reach Parliament, the
Milli Mejlis, in early 2019 and are likely to be considered at its spring
session in February (see forthcoming F18News article).

No release after six years in jail, nearly six months extra term

Telman Shirali oglu Shiraliyev (born 13 February 1981) was among a large
group of Muslim men jailed for protesting on the streets of Baku in October
2012 against a 2010 Education Ministry ban on girls wearing a headscarf
(hijab) in schools. His six-year jail term was due to end on 5 October
2018.

However, prosecutors brought new criminal charges against Shiraliyev in
late September, claiming he had kept illegal items in prison, the head of
the Azerbaijan Without Political Prisoners group Oqtay Gulaliyev told
Caucasian Knot news agency on 22 October.

On 29 September, a week before his sentence expired, a Baku District Court
ordered that Shiraliyev be held in pre-trial detention for two months. That
same day Shiraliyev was transferred from prison to Kurdakhani Investigation
Prison in Sabunchu District in north-eastern Baku.

Prosecutors brought a case against Shiraliyev under Criminal Code Article
317-2.1. This punishes "Preparation, storage, transportation or use of
objects prohibited by a person detained in prisons or in detention
facilities" with imprisonment of up to six months.

"Telman Shiraliyev is being charged with having kept a knife under his
pillow, but that is not true at all," human rights defender Gulaliyev told
Forum 18. "He is innocent. l think the criminal case launched against him
is a violation of the law and groundless. We think that his term of
punishment was extended because he did not sign the amnesty application
offered by government officials in May."

On 20 November, the criminal case against Shiraliyev was handed to Baku's
Khazar District Court, where it was assigned to Judge Akram Qahramanov,
court officials told Forum 18 on 19 December.

At the end of the short trial on the afternoon of 20 December, Judge
Qahramanov sentenced Shiraliyev to five months and 18 days imprisonment,
Elshan Hasanov, Coordinator of the Union for the Freedom of Political
Prisoners of Azerbaijan, told Forum 18 after the hearing. 

"Officially the trial was open, but the courtroom was so small that they
didn't let anyone else in, just three or four close relatives," Hasanov
said. "I was one of those not allowed in."

Hasanov said in testimony in court, prison warders denied that they had
found a knife in Shiraliyev's possession.

The Judge's phone went unanswered the same afternoon.

The same Judge Qahramanov convicted two Jehovah's Witnesses Irina
Zakharchenko and Valida Jabrayilova in January 2016 to punish them for
offering one religious booklet without the compulsory state permission
needed in Azerbaijan to distribute religious literature. The Supreme Court
subsequently overturned these convictions (see below).

Originally jailed for anti-hijab ban protest

The October 2012 anti-hijab ban protest outside the Education Ministry in
Baku - the largest of three such street protests - ended in violence.
Independent observers insisted that the violence did not come from the
protestors, but from provocateurs among the crowd possibly controlled by
the police or other security agencies.

An August 2014 report on political prisoners, complied by a Working Group
of human rights defenders led by Leyla Yunus and Rasul Jafarov concurs.
(Both human rights defenders were themselves subsequently jailed as
prisoners of conscience.)

"Observation of the protest and analysis of photos and videos from the
protest show that the action was peaceful and protesters refrained from
confronting the police and employees of other law-enforcement agencies," it
notes. "But after the use of force by police, some of the protesters
attempted to defend themselves. The photos and videos clearly showed that
provocateurs were used."
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2016&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=pN3_Cm7ezrXez_eV-XgzIVdkjVyreFTDvpEcAt9m61c&e=)

Shiraliyev was among the 32 convicted Muslim men to receive one of the
longest jail terms. Baku's Narimanov District Court sentenced him in April
2013 to six years' imprisonment. Baku Appeal Court upheld the sentence in
December 2013.

The court convicted Shiraliyev under Criminal Code Article 233
("Organisation of actions promoting infringement of a social order or
active participation in such actions") and Article 315.2 ("Resistance or
use of force against a representative of authority with the use of violence
dangerous for life and health"). Shiraliyev served most of his sentence in
Prison No. 16 in the village of Ramana near Baku.

Eleven others of the group of men were freed in 2014, three of them under a
presidential amnesty. 
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2037&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=H8gc8z4cjXrTynDSAEqoE8pv8TeKcG472osyr_4LWGQ&e=)

First Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector's case in Supreme Court

Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Emil Vilayat oglu Mehdiyev (born
12 December 1999) lodged an appeal against his criminal conviction to the
Supreme Court in Baku on 10 December. The case has been assigned to Judge
Tahir Kazimov of the Court's criminal division, according to court records.
No date has yet been set for the appeal to be heard.

After his call-up for military service in December 2017, Mehdiyev
repeatedly told the Conscription Office he could not perform military
service on grounds of conscience and was willing to perform an alternative
civilian service.

However, prosecutors brought a case against Mehdiyev under Criminal Code
Article 321.1. This states: "Evasion without lawful grounds of call-up to
military service or of mobilisation, with the purpose of evading serving in
the military, is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years [in
peacetime]".

On 6 July 2018, Barda District Court convicted Mehdiyev and handed down a
one-year suspended prison term, and required that he live under probation
for one year. 
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=V56OOPdA7Rf_AEg6WmMasQFlapWNASArqeUTI1q15ts&e=)

Mehdiyev appealed against his conviction, but Judge Alizamin Abdullayev of
Ganca Appeal Court rejected his appeal on 8 October, the court chancellery
told Forum 18 from Ganca on 17 December.

Second Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector to appeal to Supreme Court

Jehovah's Witness conscientious objector Vahid Gunduz oglu Abilov (born 2
May 1999) has failed to overturn his one-year suspended prison term to
punish him for refusing to perform compulsory military service. On 31
October, Judge Elchin Hasmammadov of Ganca Appeal Court rejected his appeal
against his conviction, the court chancellery told Forum 18 from Ganca on
17 December.

Abilov refused to serve in the army after his call-up in May 2017. "My
Bible-trained conscience prevents me from taking up military service," he
told Agdam District Conscription Office in writing. "I do not evade, or
even think of evading, the fulfilment of my civic duty. I just kindly ask
you to provide me with alternative civilian service instead of military
service."

Prosecutors brought a criminal case against Abilov on 9 July 2018 under
Criminal Code Article 321.1.

On 6 September 2018, Agdam District Court found Abilov guilty and sentenced
him to a one-year suspended prison term. During this time, Abilov must
report to the authorities each week and remains under travel restrictions.
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2415&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=eTPq8Q9gH8It9j7vBKjwVmEwI87WgvDAOeik2UO0BzQ&e=)

"The terms of the restrictions Vahid Abilov must live under during the year
remain very vague," Jehovah's Witnesses complained to Forum 18 on 17
December. They said he is preparing an appeal against his conviction to the
Supreme Court in Baku.

Will Ombudsperson's Office help conscientious objectors?

Ahead of its accession to the Council of Europe in January 2001, Azerbaijan
promised "to adopt, within two years of accession, a law on alternative
service in compliance with European standards and, in the meantime, to
pardon all conscientious objectors presently serving prison terms or
serving in disciplinary battalions, allowing them instead to choose (when
the law on alternative service has come into force) to perform non-armed
military service or alternative Civilian service".

Azerbaijan has never done this, and conscientious objectors to military
service have been repeatedly prosecuted and even jailed under Criminal Code
Article 321.1.

Four conscientious objectors jailed earlier as prisoners of conscience and
another who received a suspended prison term are awaiting decisions from
the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2408&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=V56OOPdA7Rf_AEg6WmMasQFlapWNASArqeUTI1q15ts&e=)

Forum 18 asked the Human Rights Ombudsperson's Office in Baku in writing on
17 December what action (if any) it had taken to defend the rights of
Mehdiyev and Abilov. It also asked what action (if any) it had taken to
push for the adoption of a law to allow for those who have conscientious
objections to military service to perform a civilian alternative service,
which Azerbaijan committed to introduce by 2003. Forum 18 had received no
reply from the Ombudsperson's Office by the end of the working day in Baku
on 20 December.

Compensation finally paid for wrongful 2015 jailings

Two female Jehovah's Witness former prisoners of conscience, Irina
Zakharchenko and Valida Jabrayilova, finally received financial
compensation following a long battle through local courts, including the
Supreme Court. "The two ladies received the money directly into their bank
accounts in the week beginning 8 October," Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum
18. This was six months after the Supreme Court finally ruled in their
favour.

Zakharchenko and Jabrayilova were arrested in February 2015 for offering
one religious book publicly without the compulsory state permission. The
then National Security Ministry (NSM) secret police held them in pre-trial
detention from February until late 2015, when Zakharchenko was finally
transferred to hospital. She and Jabrayilova were then transferred to the
Investigation Prison in Kurdakhani.
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2041&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=yZBtnV2JRLz5O6tziePA1jOSymVdSbbye0dijmlkfwo&e=)

The women were held at the then NSM prison in a "confinement room, a
'cage', rather than a cell, in that there was no privacy and everything was
exposed to the sight of others", Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. "The
smell of sewage in this 'cage' was suffocating."
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2140&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=xGp09i9g_2ubRca0nVpi0UmjOSTMDFYaVEbnvxUeqjE&e=)

Prison officials constantly demanded money. Prisoners who shared the cell
stated that they had been asked to pay bribes of 30,000 Manats (then about
166,430 Norwegian Kroner, 17,230 Euros, or 18,800 US Dollars) to get out.

The Jehovah's Witness women were not allowed a Bible or other religious
literature during this time, just as Muslim prisoners of conscience have
been denied Korans.

Judge Qahramanov (who convicted Telman Shiraliyev in December 2018 – see
above) finally convicted Zakharchenko and Jabrayilova in January 2016. He
handed down a heavy fine on each, but cancelled the fines because the two
women had been in prison since February 2015.
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2144&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=TzehDdhKeHOsHcrcEZ8aOyLL2Fz4OaDsbgfDjpwc28s&e=)

The Supreme Court exonerated the two women in February 2017, but left the
issue of compensation to the lower courts. A Baku court ordered in August
2017 that they be compensated. However, the Finance Ministry challenged the
compensation awards. The women finally overcame these challenges in the
Supreme Court on 16 April 2018. It remains unclear why it took six months
for the payments to be made. (END)

Full reports on freedom of thought, conscience and belief in Azerbaijan
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Fquery-3D-26religion-3Dall-26country-3D23&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=o-SZS12cFhBebYe_S__e3EvvAb_nuNOU59M2XqWM4dU&e=)

For more background, see Forum 18's Azerbaijan religious freedom survey
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D2429&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=bcSYf5nbynektbRE1-0_E4Kp10BrnJPMnKnqHCsEJ84&e=)

Forum 18's compilation of Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) freedom of religion or belief commitments
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.forum18.org_archive.php-3Farticle-5Fid-3D1351&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=RsoUmfNfY0n6A32NRJS_S24DcQt-5WiAQn6Zp5CCqJY&e=)

A printer-friendly map of Azerbaijan
(https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.nationalgeographic.org_education_mapping_outline-2Dmap_-3Fmap-3DAzerbaijan&d=DwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=Iu8-BF-Bci9RIUKIr3WtzV-MyecYdytSTQ-ZOZo5dRA&s=LaksGdJcF0o_AZLJNmQFZosF45VZ-OcxvEUOf5i4hOM&e=)

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Անթիլիաս – Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. ԱՐԱՄ Ա. ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿՈՍ ԸՆԴՈՒՆԵՑ ԼԻԲԱՆԱՆԻ ՄՕՏ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՆՈՐԱՆՇԱՆԱԿ ԴԵՍՊԱՆԸ

Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
PO Box : 70 317 Antelias – LEBANON
Tel: (+961-4) 410 001 / 3
Fax: (+961-4) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]


Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. ԱՐԱՄ Ա. ԿԱԹՈՂԻԿՈՍ ԸՆԴՈՒՆԵՑ ԼԻԲԱՆԱՆԻ ՄՕՏ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆԻ ՆՈՐԱՆՇԱՆԱԿ ԴԵՍՊԱՆԸ

 

Երեքշաբթի, 20 Դեկտեմբեր 2018-ին, Ն.Ս.Օ.Տ.Տ. Արամ Ա. Կաթողիկոս Անթիլիասի Մայրավանքի իր գրասենեակին մէջ ընդունեց
Լիբանանի մօտ Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան նորանշանակ դեսպան Պրն. Վահագն Աթաբեկեանը։

 

Շուրջ ժամ մը տեւած հանդիպումի ընթացքին
ընդհանուր ծանօթացումէ ետք,
Վեհափառ Հայրապետը  կարգ մը հիմնական տեղեկութիւններ
փոխանցեց պարոն դեսպանին՝ յատկապէս Լիբանանի ներքին քաղաքական կեանքին, Մեծի Տանն Կիլիկիոյ
Կաթողիկոսութեան գործունէութեան, ինչպէս նաեւ Հայաստան­­-Սփիւռք գործակցութեան մասին՝
մասնաւորաբար ներկայ իրավիճակներու լոյսին տակ։
Նորին
Սրբութիւնը
վստահեցուց, որ Կաթողիկոսութիւնը
պիտի շարունակէ իր բոլոր գաղութներէն ներս զօրակցիլ դեսպանատան աշխատանքներուն։

 

Պարոն դեսպան իր կարգին տեղեակ պահեց Վեհափառ Հայրապետը դեսպանատան յառաջիկայ գործունէութեան մասին եւ
շնորհակալութիւն յայտնեց իրեն փոխանցուած տեղեկութիւններուն եւ իր անձին նկատմամբ
ցուցաբերուած վստահութեան եւ զօրակցութեան համար։

 


Communication & Information Department