Human rights in a state of crisis
"Human rights in Armenia is in a state of crisis," said today RA Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan as he presented the 2008 human rights report. His report is composed of 275 pages underlining the gravity of the situation. The report does not include the events that followed the elections because, as Harutyunyan noted, that was a special report and the assessments haven't changed. In 2008, the Ombudsman's office received 5800 complaints of which only 429 have been considered.
Armen Harutyunyan said that the freedom to hold rallies has been violated last year. The city council has banned more than 90 rallies and what the Ombudsman doesn't understand is the reason for the authorities banning the rallies. Armen Harutyunyan touched upon the issue of assaults against journalists and brought up the example of the assault on journalist of "Chorrort Ishkhanutyun" Gohar Veziryan whose attackers remain unpunished. As for the violation of the right of assets, Armen Harutyunyan recalled that all files are being upheld in the European Court.
As for the attitude of the society and the political parties towards the institute of the Ombudsman, Armen Harutyunyan said that there is pressure from both the authorities and the opposition.
"The society is more tolerant today than the political parties," said Armen Harutyunyan in closing.
The Ombudsman had also come up with an award for one journalist and one political figure for showing and instilling tolerance. The awards went to journalist of "Aravot" daily Anna Israelyan and former Ombudsman, current "Heritage" faction deputy Larisa Alaverdyan who, according to Harutyunyan, always gives correct criticism.
