PACE sets three demands to Armenian authorities
A written declaration entitled "Continuing non-compliance by Armenia of its international obligations" has appeared on the website of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
PACE recalls that Resolution 1609 (2008) on Armenia adopted after the 2008 elections firmly establishes that "the underlying causes of the crisis are deeply rooted in the failure of the key institutions of the state to perform their functions in full compliance with democratic standards and the principles of the rule of law and the protection of human rights", and calls for "an independent, transparent and credible inquiry into the events of 1 March 2008" including the killing of 10 persons, and demands to release the persons detained on artificial and politically motivated charges;
PACE Stresses that proper functioning of democratic institutions is not achievable without the establishment of the truth and full restoration of justice including the punishment of those responsible for previous human rights violations;
PACE Emphasises that unpunished violations stimulate the sense of impunity and contribute to their recurrence, a vivid example of which is the death in custody of Vahan Khalafyan, who was allegedly tortured and subsequently killed by his interrogators;
PACE is alarmed by newly-initiated criminal proceedings against three opposition activists, including journalist Ani Gevorgyan from the daily newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak;
PACE considers unacceptable that:
- no one is yet held responsible for the killing of 10 persons;
- representatives of the opposition, convicted on politically motivated charges, are still kept in jail;
- the authorities refuse to examine the illegal involvement of the army in the events of March 2008,
PACE urgently demands that the Armenian authorities:
- identify and punish those responsible for the killing of 10 persons;
- release prisoners convicted on politically motivated charges;
- conduct a transparent and credible inquiry into the illegal involvement of the army.
The continuing non-compliance by the Armenian authorities of its international obligations and Parliamentary Assembly's demands is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.
This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it.
