Ombudsman’s advice to the police
"The illegitimate restriction on and misuse of the right to hold peaceful rallies is not only viewed as a deviation from democratic principles, but a serious threat to the stability of a state and the civil society as well. Ensuring this right requires the government's commitment to ensure the inviolable exercising of the right to hold rallies," said RA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasyan as he addressed freedom of rallies.
According to him, any restriction must fall in line with the principle of proportion and preference must be given to minimum intervention.
"In terms of the protection of people's rights and freedoms, we must find a clear-cut balance between the exercising of the right to holding free rallies, as well as the rights of third persons and legitimate interests."
On 14 April 2011, the RA National Assembly adopted the RA law "On Freedom of Rallies" the draft of which was developed by the RA Human Rights Defender and the RA presidential apparatus in 2010. According to the Human Rights Defender, the suggestions made by the Venice Commission and the ODIHR were taken into account.
"The enforcement of the existing law doesn't refer to all types of "events" and only sets restrictions on "rallies". The differentiation between rallies that can be informed and those that can't be informed is clear and simple and the range of sites where rallies are prohibited is specific. The law also establishes the approach that as long as a rally is peaceful, the police can't interrupt it. I think this law will help ensure the constitutional right to holding rallies to the maximum. Within the limits of my competence, I will continue to follow up on ensuring the freedom of rallies and will take all necessary measures to eliminate any violation of this right," announced Karen Andreasyan.
Andreasyan also attached importance to the precise and proper enforcement of this law and all laws of Armenia by the RA Police and community heads. He underlined that the police must be more tolerant, caring and humanistic in any situation by maintaining and attaching importance to social order, people's tranquility and regular activities.
