‘Even release of all political prisoners won’t solve the problem’

‘Even release of all political prisoners won’t solve the problem’
16:43 – 21.05.11

The existing problems in Armenia’s political life won’t be resolved
even if all the `political prisoners’ are released, a rights activist
has said.

Speaking at the civic hearing organized by the opposition Heritage
party on Saturday, Avetik Ishkhanyan, the head of the Armenian
Helsinki Committee, said the reason is that the judicial authorities
in Armenia are not independent.

`We have that issue because we don’t have judicial authorities,’ said
Ishkhanyan, speaking about the 1-2 March 2008 events that left at
least ten dead and sent many to prisons.

`Courts and judicial authorities are various concepts. The judicial
power is the spine of the state, which we don’t have. We don’t have
judicial power, consequently we don’t have local self-governing
bodies,’ explained he Ishkhanyan.

Speaking about statements by the opposition Armenian National Congress
(or HAK) about a `soft’ change of power, Ishkhanyan said it is
impossible to fulfill.

`The change of power, the way the HAK perceives, is impossible under
today’s authorities,’ said Ishkhanyan

Tert.am

From: Baghdasarian