“EC decisions are disregarded”
Member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Zaruhi Postanjyan delivered a speech on the flagrant disregard of the authorities of Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on freedom of speech.
The following is the speech:
Turkey: In Turkey, on the basis of the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish criminal code, which is in force to this day, court proceedings were launched - allegedly for insults against Turkish national identity - against the well-known Istanbul-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink. However, he was murdered in 2007. "The Turkish authorities did not fulfil their duty to protect Hrant Dink's life and his freedom of speech." Such was the conclusion of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter. In fact, the journalist was penalised by state agencies for criticising the failure of the Turkish authorities to acknowledge the events of 1915 as genocide. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibits limitations on freedom of expression, in terms of political dialogue and issues of public concern.
Azerbaijan: In Azerbaijan, on the basis of several articles of the Azerbaijani criminal code, Eynulla Fatullayev, was sentenced to imprisonment, and he remains in jail to this day, even though the European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously, on 22 April 2010, that his indictment infringed Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Fatullayev had strongly criticised the Azerbaijani authorities and formulated his own views on the so-called 1992 Khojaly events, refuting the disinformation and propaganda that the Azerbaijani authorities had disseminated for years.
Georgia: A Georgian court sentenced Vahagn Chakhalyan to 10 years' imprisonment, and the case has already been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights. Behind the veil of criminal proceedings, we are yet again witnessing an encroachment on freedom of expression. But the real reason behind the imprisonment of Chakhalyan, a well-known Armenian political personality from Georgia's predominantly Armenian-populated region of Javakhk, is to forbid any voice speaking against the numerous and serious problems confronting the native Armenian population of Javakhk.
Armenia: In Armenia, despite a decision by the European Court for Human Rights, the A1+ television company is still not on the air. What is more, just a few days ago, the ALM television company was deprived of its right to broadcast, and the same fate now awaits Gala TV.
