FREEDOM TO SPONTANEOUS DEMONSTRATIONS
Support A1+!Experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe met yesterday with the Armenian authorities for consultations on amendments to the Armenian law on Conducting Gatherings, Meetings, Rallies and Demonstrations. This was informed by the EU Yerevan office today.
Both organizations have made suggestions as to how the legislation, adopted in April 2004, can be brought into compliance with international standards. These consultations are a part of a wide-ranging co-operation between the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR on legislative reviews and support in a number of countries.
The consultations with Mr. Tigran Torosyan, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly and Mr. David Harutyunyan, Minister of Justice addressed key issues such as the possibility for spontaneous demonstrations as well as the freedom to counter-demonstrate. Also discussed were notification procedures, grounds for restrictions and termination of public assemblies and responsibility for the conduct of participants in a public assembly.
Armenia has committed itself to amend the law following a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly resolution, which called on the Armenian authorities to introduce amendments of the law on demonstrations and public assemblies by March 2005, in order to bring it into full conformity with Council of Europe standards to ensure freedom of assembly in practice.
The consultations provided a basis for consolidation of the proposed amendments, which is to be finalized by end of April.
