URGENT APPEAL To the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
23.01.2010
We are appealing to you in regards to recent changes in the composition of the Armenian delegation to the PACE imposed by the chairman of the Armenian Parliament. Those changes are in clear and blatant violation of the principles set out in Rule 6.2 of the PACE Rules of Procedure, according to which national parliamentary delegations must be composed of membership that ensures a fair representation of the political parties or groups represented in their respective parliaments.
The ultimate aim of this hypocritically formulated reshuffle is to deprive the representative of the only real opposition party represented in the Armenian parliament, the unequivocally opposition “Heritage” party, which has consistently condemning the ongoing violations by the Armenian authorities of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms and further weakening of the principles of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Armenia, of the right to voice in the PACE the genuine concerns of the Armenian people, to deprive “Heritage” party of the possibility to reveal to you the truth about the real situation in Armenia. The basic cause of this reshuffle is the fact that the active participation of the representative of “Heritage” party in the sessions of the PACE, in the sittings of the Bureau of the Group of the European People's Party and, particularly, in the meetings of the Monitoring Committee of the Assembly, was becoming dangerous for Armenian authorities.
The possible ratification by the Assembly of the credentials of the recently reconstituted Armenian delegation will only contribute to the further deterioration of the internal human rights situation in Armenia, and will only encourage and deepen the sense of impunity among the Armenian authorities. The first signs of this are already evident, as one of the more blatant cases of falsified elections, marred by unprovoked violence against journalists, observers and proxies, occurred on January 10, and has been only followed by the unjust conviction of prominent independent journalist and opposition political figure Nikol Pashinyan on January 19, 2010.
Sixty years ago, the founding states endowed the Council of Europe with the task of achieving a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles of personal and political freedoms and the rule of law, which are our common heritage and on which true democracy is founded.
Today we call upon you to challenge the still unratified credentials of the parliamentary delegation of Armenia and to send a clear message to the Armenian authorities that any such decision to unfairly deny the sole opposition party a voice and fair representation within the official delegation to PACE stands in blatant contradiction of each of our common values and principles, including the principle of separation of powers. Thus, we call on PACE to affirm that the patience of the Council of Europe is limited regarding continued violations by the Armenian authorities and that any further delay in compliance with their commitments and obligations is not acceptable any more and is fraught with severe consequences.
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office
Transparency International Anti-corruption Center NGO
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee NGO
Zartonk 89
Journalists for human rights
"Asparez" Journalists' Club
Menk plus
"Huys" NGO
Lawyers for human rights
National citizens' initiative
Ecoera NGO
Youth Center For Democratic Initiatives
Statement Of Human Rights Organizations
09.12.2009
On the human rights day we, the representatives of human rights organizations in Armenia, express our deep concern about the issues concerning with law authorities, court system and administration of justice.
Unfortunately we point out that in 2009 human rights activists recorded a number of cases of torture, forcing testimony, fair trial violations.
As an obvious case we would like to mention 1-2 March events of 2008 and the processes followed.
So far the killings of 10 citizens on the evening of March 1, 2008 as a consequence of a force enforced by the authorities have been undisclosed and the responsible people unknown.
This means that 1609, 1620, 1643, 1677 resolutions of the Assembly of the Council of Europe have not been implemented fully.
Today more than ten political prisoners are still in prison.
We, human rights organizations in Armenia, condemn any kind of violence and demand from the Armenian authorities
1) To present the implemented activities aimed at disclosure of the circumstances of the killings of 10 citizens on March 1,
2) To disclose urgently the circumstances of the killings of 10 citizens and bring to justice the responsible people eliminating exacerbation of the atmosphere of impunity,
3) To release all political prisoners creating a country free from pursuits on political grounds.
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor office
Civil Society Institute
Transparency International Anti-corruption centre
Helsinki Committee of Armenia
Armenian Helsinki Association
Collaboration for democracy centre
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Armenian Committee
Foundation Against Violation of law
Right and Freedom Centre
Youth Center For Democratic Initiatives
OSCE HDIM 2009
10.10.2009
The OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting took place in Warsaw, from 28 September 2009 - 9 October 2009. By the invitation of Freedom House YCDI NGO representative participated in the Meeting and had an intervention on the topic of domestic and international election observation missions. Below is the link to the full text of intervention.
International vs. Domestic Observers
http://www.osce.org/conferences/hdim_2009.html?page=documents&author_id=931
Apart from attending the main plenary sessions YCDI NGO representative also took part in side events organized by Freedom House, NGOs from Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as had meetings with official delegations of the US, Sweden and Spain.
Please click on thumbnails to view photos.
STATEMENT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA
20.08.2009
The authorities of Armenia relying on law enforcement bodies and judicial system freely carry out any order and continue the policy of intimidation and violence towards the disagreeable citizens.
Arrests, beatings and judicial punishment of journalists and human rights defenders, disgraceful trials related to the events of March 1, 2008 over oppositional leaders of Armenia, arrests and beatings of youth movement members struggling for their rights are sanctioned by provost regime of Armenia.
The commencement of a criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan, one of the leaders of ecological movement is another vivid manifestation of policy of impatience towards the dissidence.
We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations of Armenia which are members of South Caucasian Network of Human Rights Defenders
- demand the competent bodies to stop the criminal case instituted against Mariam Sukhudyan,
- demand the competent bodies to punish the ones who instituted the criminal case
- address the international organizations with a request to support our demands and exert pressure on the authorities of Armenia.
Helsinki Association
Socioscop
Helsinki Citizen Assembly
Journalist Club “Asparez”
Women Resource Center
Vernatun- Wives of Political Prisoners
PINK Armenia
Democracy Today
Helsinki Citizen Assembly of Vanadzor
Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives
Human Rights Watch is Deeply Concerned About Arman Babajanyan's State of Health
03.08.2009
On July 29 Human Rights Watch sent open letter to the Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan encouraging for his immediate intervention in urging the responsible authorities to provide Arman Babajanyan with the highest possible standard of treatment.
July 29, 2009
Dear Minister Danielyan,
We are writing regarding the well known journalist and editor, Arman Babajanian, who is currently nearing the end of his three-and-a-half-year prison term on charges of draft evasion.
We have learned that Mr. Babajanian has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, which is affecting his eyesight and requires urgent medical intervention. We are very concerned about his health and therefore ask for your immediate intervention in urging the responsible authorities to provide him with the highest possible standard of treatment.
Arman Babajanian is the founder and editor-in-chief of Zhamanak Daily, an independent daily newspaper published in Yerevan and Los Angeles, California. He was arrested on June 26, 2006 on charges of evading military service and falsification of documents related to his military service. He admitted to the charges, paid the required fines, and was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in prison. Babajanian has now served most of his sentence and scheduled to be released in about a month and a half.
In July 2008 Human Rights Watch urged the Armenian authorities to grant Mr. Babajanian's request for parole on good behavior. Despite international encouragement the Armenian authorities did not grant the request.
We hope that you will do everything in your power to ensure Mr. Babajanian's access to the highest possible standard of treatment.
We thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Holly Cartner
Executive Director Europe and Central Asia Division
Human Rights Watch
Domestic Legal Mechanisms for the protection of Human Rights
19.05.2009
On May 19th, 2009 “Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives” (YCDI) Non-Governmental Organization conducted a press conference on presenting the informational booklet entitled “Domestic Legal Mechanisms for the protection of Human Rights” published within the frames of “Human Rights Protection in Rural Communities” project.
The goal of the press conference is the presentation of the booklet in which the author reviews the human rights protection national legal mechanisms with modern developments and through legal analysis. In the certain booklet human rights protection national mechanisms are presented in details which may be a guideline for planning the steps directed to re-establishment of violated rights. In the booklet it was scrupulously presented all possible mechanisms of human rights protection available in Armenia, in particular advocate services, public defending, groups implementing public monitoring, non-governmental organizations and etc. The booklet is foreseen for people with active civil standpoint and non-governmental organizations. It may be useful for university students of legal department and individuals interested in human rights protection.
“Human Rights Education in the Rural Communities” project have been founded by US Embassy in Yerevan and US State Department.
For additional information please feel free to contact Tatevik Matinyan by +(374 322)40910, +(374 91)255898 telephone numbers or visit YCDI NGO web site www.democracy.am.
Excellent Mark for YCDI NGO
26.03.2009
“Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives” NGO implemented a project entitled “Advocacy Campaign for the Sake of Green Vanadzor” advocacy initiative in the period of August 1, 2008 – January 31, 2009. After the project implementation a Completion memo has been put together by the “NGO Center” NGO, the authors of which stated in it that: “… taking into consideration the achievements adopted within the frames of the project, the level of activity implementation, the fact of achieving the goals and aims, the way financial and programmatic reports have been presented to the donor organization, presented methods for the project evaluation, as well as the implementation of the advocacy skills development plan, the work done by YCDI NGO for the completion of the project is mark as Excellent.”
Armenian authorities should fully respect the principle of freedom of Assembly, according to PACE rapporteurs
17.02.2009
John Prescott and Georges Colombier, co-rapporteurs on Armenia 's monitoring for the Parliamenatry Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), expressed their concern about the refusal of the authorities to allow the Armenian National Congress (HAK) to organise a peaceful rally in Central Yerevan on 1 March 2009. They stressed that the Assembly has on several occasions called upon the authorities to fully respect the principle of freedom of assembly in Armenia and not to place undue restrictions, especially with regard to the requested venues, upon peaceful rallies organised by the opposition. In their view , the possibility for all political forces to organise peaceful rallies is an essential component of democracy and therefore call upon the authorities to allow such peaceful rallies to take place unimpeded in the requested venues.
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: WORLD REPORT 2009
15.01.2009
Armenia Events of 2008
Armenia experienced one of its most serious civil and political rights crises since independence when security forces used excessive force on March 1 against opposition demonstrators protesting the results of the February 2008 presidential election. Violent clashes erupted between police and demonstrators, and authorities arrested several hundred demonstrators and prosecuted more than a hundred opposition supporters. A state of emergency temporarily restricted several basic freedoms, including freedom of assembly. International condemnation of the use of excessive force during the March 1 events and of the state of emergency was widespread.
Elections and Election-Related Violence
The February 19 presidential election was won by Prime Minister Serj Sargsyan, but was marred by election-day violence and irregularities. On election day, assailants threatened and attacked opposition activists protesting what they believed to be electoral fraud, domestic observers, and journalists at eight polling stations. Several assaults occurred in the presence of police and election officials who did not intervene; in one case a policeman appeared to assist assailants. Inteirnational observers also reported violations, including campaigning near polling stations, ballot stuffing, vote buying, and counting and tabulation irregularities. Observers criticized the Central Election Commission for its apparent failure to properly investigate complaints.
On February 20, tens of thousands of supporters of Levon Ter-Petrossian, the main opposition candidate, took to the streets in downtown Yerevan. The protests continued peacefully for 10 days.
On March 1, special police forces confronted the demonstrators using excessive force, beating them with batons and attacking fleeing demonstrators. Some demonstrators also resorted to violence, including throwing stones and burning vehicles. The clashes resulted in at least 10 deaths (eight demonstrators and two police officers), and scores of people were injured. Police detained several hundred demonstrators, charging more than one hundred opposition supporters and others with organizing or participating in illegal demonstrations and mass disturbances. Police committed due process violations including incommunicado detention, denial of access to counsel, and failure to investigate allegations of ill-treatment. Subsequent trial proceedings raised fair trial concerns: several detainees were convicted solely on police testimony and in expedited trial proceedings.
The government declared a state of emergency on March 1, temporarily restricting freedom of movement, assembly, expression, and access to information. The state of emergency was lifted fully on March 21.
Under pressure from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Armenian authorities have taken steps to establish an independent inquiry into the March 1 events, but have yet to hold anyone responsible for the deaths.
Media Freedom
Police targeted journalists covering the February demonstrations. On February 29, police attacked photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan while he was attempting to photograph them. On March 1, police detained Shamshyan, took his camera, and beat him; he needed hospital treatment for his injuries and was released after the intervention of the Armenian ombudsman. Also on March 1, police hindered a Radio Liberty correspondent's work and beat the driver of her car. Police detained at least two other journalists during demonstrations in Yerevan and Gyumri.
Under the state of emergency, media could use only official information from state agencies to report on national affairs. The National Security Service (NSS) prevented at least seven opposition and independent newspapers from publishing, and blocked websites. At least two newspapers protested the restrictions and refused to print. Although media restrictions were lifted on March 13, NSS representatives interfered with the same seven newspapers' printing, allowing them to publish only on March 21. In late March tax authorities hit at least four newspapers with apparently politically-motivated audits.
In October, the Court of Cassation overturned a February 29 ruling against the founder of the Gyumri-based television station GALA for allegedly illegally using the local television tower, but left in force a March 19 fraud conviction. The cases emerged following an October 2007 tax audit that was widely seen as retaliation for GALA's airing a September 2007 Ter-Petrossian speech critical of the government. The Asparez Journalism Club of Gyumri was apparently targeted for supporting GALA. On January 19, an assailant attempted to set fire to the Asparez office, and on March 21 two unidentified men torched a car being used by Asparez director Levon Barseghyan as he returned to the car from GALA.
In June 2008 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Armenia had violated article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to the independent broadcast company A1+. The court held that laws regulating awarding of broadcast licenses failed to protect against arbitrary interference and that denials of a license to A1+ were unlawful. As of April, A1+ had made 12 unsuccessful attempts to regain a license since going off air in 2002. In September 2008 the National Assembly amended the law on television and radio to suspend all licensing until a digital switchover scheduled for 2010. The amendments are seen as further efforts to deny A1+ a license.
The Yerevan Press Club reported several apparently arbitrary arrests of journalists, and the beating of two journalists, Lusine Barseghyan, an Armenian Times reporter, and Hrach Melkumyan, Radio Liberty acting director, by unknown assailants in separate incidents in August. The journalists believe they were targeted for their professional activities.
On July 18, a presidentially-appointed commission rejected an early release request by Arman Babajanyan, editor of the independent newspaper Zhamanak Yerevan, who had been convicted in 2006 of forging documents in order to evade compulsory military service. Babajanyan had served two years of a three-and-a-half-year sentence and was eligible for early release on parole for good conduct.
Freedom of Assembly
Just before the government lifted the state of emergency, on March 17, 2008, the National Assembly passed restrictive amendments to the law on meetings, which were criticized by the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Subsequent further amendments in April eased some of the restrictions. The government denied numerous opposition requests to hold public rallies in late March, and at least 90 people participating in peaceful "public walks" organized by opposition supporters in Yerevan were briefly detained.
Torture and Ill-Treatment
According to local human rights defenders, torture and ill-treatment in custody remain widespread. Several people detained in connection with the March 1 events alleged physical abuse during apprehension, transfer to police stations, and in custody. At this writing, the authorities have not investigated these claims.
In June a Yerevan court ordered additional investigation into the May 2007 death of Levon Gulyan, who was found dead after police arrested and interrogated him. The authorities allege that Gulyan jumped from a second-storey window of a police station while trying to escape, a claim denied by Gulyan's relatives who believe he was tortured.
Attacks on Human Rights Defenders and Political Activists
In November 2007 a group of unknown assailants beat Narek Galstyan, leader of the youth wing of the opposition Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party. Two days earlier, police had briefly detained Galstyan and another activist for posting leaflets critical of Serj Sargsyan.
In May 2008 the chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association, Mikael Danielyan, was wounded when an assailant shot him from a pneumatic gun, following an argument while both men were stopped at a traffic light. It was reported that the assailant was a former leader of the Armenian Progressive Party. Criminal investigation into the attack is ongoing.
Also in May, Arsen Kharatyan, a leading member of the pro-opposition democratic youth movements Sksela and Hima, was beaten in Yerevan by several unknown assailants, and sustained serious head injuries. Another Hima member, Narek Hovakimyan, was attacked and beaten in June.
Key International Actors
International election observers from the OSCE, Council of Europe, and the European Parliament declared that the February elections were "mostly in line" with international standards, but noted concerns about the election process. International and domestic observers also criticized uneven media coverage of candidates prior to the elections.
Citing concerns about the Armenian authorities' reaction to the March 1 events, the United States froze further payments to Armenia from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a five-year US$235.65 million program for reducing rural poverty. In several statements, the European Union expressed concern about the authorities' use of force and arrests of demonstrators.
Following a visit to Armenia in early March, the OSCE's special envoy for the South Caucasus called on the Armenian authorities to lift the state of emergency and expressed "regret" that "maximum restraint" had not been used during the crisis.
During its urgent debate on Armenia in April, the PACE threatened to suspend Armenia's voting rights unless it took a series of urgent measures, including revoking the amendments to the law on meetings, conducting an independent inquiry into the March 1 events, and releasing those detained on seemingly politically motivated charges who had not committed any violent or serious offense. At its June session, the PACE welcomed progress in some of these areas, but regretted that Armenia had not complied with all requirements.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg conducted three visits to Armenia in 2008. In addition to gathering information about the March 1 events, Hammarberg provided support for establishing an independent inquiry.
Source: http://www.hrw.org/
Happy New Year & Merry Christmas !!!
29.12.2008
Dear Friends,
"Youth Center for Democratic Initiatives" NGO congratulates You on the occasion of magnificent Christmas and New Year holidays. We wish that the tidings of profound Christmas putting the beginning of the New Year will reinforce us in our daily work and on the challenging course of achieving our mission. By true and warm appreciation of our partnership of the passing year we give our highest regards and wish You a New Year of prosperity and peace.
With best wishes,
Board of “YCDI” NGO
