Author: Andres-Papazian

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN ARMENIA

FIDH.org
Dec 5 2012

The administration of justice in Armenia has been of concern for many
years and remains a serious issue. Analysis founded on comprehensive
monitoring conducted by local human rights defenders indicates that
key issues like lack of judicial independence, use of torture and
ill-treatment, and poor conditions and overcrowding in penitentiaries
remain outstanding and urgent. In late 2010 and 2011 political
prisoners incarcerated after events in March 2008 were released.

Nevertheless, specific cases of politically motivated persecution
continue.

In 2010 the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) together
with its member organisation in Armenia, the Civil Society Institute
(CSI), and other Armenian NGOs, released a briefing paper outlining
serious concerns regarding the functioning of the justice system in
the Republic of Armenia. Concerns included violations of the right
to a fair trial encompassing also the abuse of pre-trial detention,
violations of the presumption of innocence and the rights of the
defense, and the use of illegally obtained testimony secured through
torture and ill treatment.

These concerns were also at the center of discussions during the
2010 International Forum on Justice organised by FIDH in Armenia,
as well as the recommendations transmitted directly to the Armenian
President and the Minister of Justice. Two years on, FIDH, CSI and
the Norwegian Helsinki Committee have conducted a thorough assessment
of recent developments in this field. Sadly, significant improvements
are still badly needed to shift the general pattern of human rights
breaches in this context. Moreover, the individual cases previously
highlighted by our organisations have still not been resolved.

The current briefing highlights these deficiencies in six key areas,
namely torture and ill treatment, political prisoners, investigations
into March 2008 abuses, judicial independence, juvenile justice and
the system for early conditional release. In doing so, it will provide
factual examples to illustrate concerns, before making a series of
recommendations to the Armenian authorities to remedy this situation.

Our organisations, the International Federation for Human Rights,
Civil Society Institute and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee express
our deep concern about the issues raised in this briefing. We call
upon the authorities to eliminate violations in the administration of
justice and ensure the establishment of an independent judiciary and
the rule of law. These steps are fundamental to the further democratic
development of Armenia.

From: A. Papazian

REP. ADAM SCHIFF CALLS ON APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO CUT ALL SECURITY FUNDING TO AZERBAIJAN

Congressional Documents and Publications
December 4, 2012

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. (29th CD), issued the following news
release:

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) sent a letter to Senators Patrick
Leahy and Lindsey Graham, and Representatives Kay Granger and Nita
Lowey — the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the State and Foreign
Operations Subcommittees in the House and Senate — calling on them
to cut all security assistance to Azerbaijan, including Azerbaijan’s
International Military Education and Training Account (IMET) funding.

This latest request comes after the egregious repatriation and release
of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who had confessed to the
savage 2004 axe murder of Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan
during a NATO Partnership for Peace Program.

“Azerbaijan has committed the most terrible subversion of justice –
making a hero of a cold-blooded killer,” said Rep. Schiff. “Plainly the
investment we have made in training Azeri forces has been worse than
wasted. The United States must not tolerate any acts of aggression
against Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh, and this hateful action by
President Aliyev undermines all international efforts to bring about
a peaceful solution in the region.”

The full letter Schiff sent to the Chairmen and Ranking Members
is below:

Dear Chairmen Leahy and Granger and Ranking Members Graham and Lowey:

As you continue work on the 2013 State, Foreign Operations and Related
Programs appropriations bill, I urge you to cut all security assistance
to Azerbaijan, including Azerbaijan’s IMET funding, in response to the
egregious repatriation and release of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani
army captain who had confessed to the savage 2004 axe murder of
Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, while the latter slept. At
the time, the two were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace
exercise in Budapest, Hungary. After the murder, Safarov was sentenced
to life in prison by a Hungarian court and imprisoned in Hungary.

On August 31, Safarov was sent home to Azerbaijan, purportedly to
serve out the remainder of his sentence. Instead of prison, he was
greeted as a hero by the Azeri government and promenaded through the
streets of Baku carrying a bouquet of roses. President Ilham Aliyev
immediately pardoned Safarov and he was promoted to the rank of major
and given a new apartment and eight years of back pay.

The Aliyev government’s rapturous welcome for Safarov in Baku exposes
a fundamental contempt for the rule of law that is the underpinning
of any state that aspires to greater integration into Euro-Atlantic
institutions. It also further poisons relations between Azerbaijan and
Armenia over the ethnic Armenian territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The
OSCE’s Minsk Group (United States, Russia and France) has been trying
to work with the parties to fashion a settlement to a crisis that
threatens to plunge the Caucasus into war. That effort, already
difficult because of years of repeated sniping incidents by Azeri
forces, as well as a stream of bellicose statements from Baku, is
now even more challenging.

Azerbaijan must pay a high price for its actions. Baku treasures the
security assistance that it receives from Washington, not because
it needs the money (it does not), but because it signifies a certain
closeness in the bilateral relationship. By cutting off military aid to
Azerbaijan, the United States would signal its disgust with the Safarov
affair, while also reminding Aliyev that the United States will not
tolerate any acts of aggression against Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh.

Furthermore, the United States should immediately suspend all
IMET activities with Azerbaijan. According to the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency, which oversees IMET, the program has two aims:

-To further the goal of regional stability through effective, mutually
beneficial military-to-military relations which culminate in increased
understanding and defense cooperation between the United States and
foreign countries; and

-To increase the ability of foreign national military and civilian
personnel to absorb and maintain basic democratic values and protect
internationally recognized human rights.

Azerbaijan’s actions in pardoning, parading and promoting an
axe-murderer like Safarov clearly indicate that our investment there
in IMET has been an abject failure. The funding, training and support
has plainly not fostered either regional stability or the absorption
of democratic values and a respect for human rights.

I would be happy to discuss this issue further with you or your staff,
but we cannot continue to embrace a government and a military that
operates at cross-purposes to our own interests and in violation of
the most basic norms of international behavior.

Sincerely,

Adam Schiff Member of Congress

From: A. Papazian

THE NUMBER OF ARMENIAN CITIZENS VISITING TURKEY DECREASES

armradio.am
19:21 05.12.2012

The number of Armenian citizens visiting Turkey has decreased 3.23%
in January-October of the current year as compared to the same period
of 2011.

According to the data of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
5 337 citizens of the Republic of Armenia visited Turkey in October,
which is 2 081 less than last year.

Meanwhile, according to the source, 72 393 RA citizens visited Turkey
in 2011, i.e. 4.5% more as compare to 2011.

From: A. Papazian

THERE MUST BE NO PERSON AVOIDING MILITARY SERVICE OR USING HIS PRIVILEGES. SEYRAN OHANYAN

18:31, 5 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Minster of Defence pays
all his attention to the recruiting processes and does his best to
prevent all the manifestations of bribery. “I have faithful people
whose principle is to prevent violation and not let any person use
his privileges or avoid military service with the help of bribe”
said Seyran Ohanyan during the opening ceremony of the new building
in Hayanist.

As Armenpress reports Seyran Ohanyan noted that the quality of
recruitment activities was constantly improving.

The autumn recruitment in Armenian launched on November 19.

From: A. Papazian

THIRD PARTY INTERVENTION IN LITIGATION DISCUSSED IN ARMENIA
Nvard Davtyan

“Radiolur”
17:38 04.12.2012

The OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with Armenia’s Chamber of Advocates
hosted a discussion on 4 December 2012, in Yerevan, on third party
intervention in domestic and international litigation, specifically
on the submission of amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) briefs
in Armenia.

The President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, the Human
Rights Officer of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Vladimir Tchountoulov
and the Vice President of the Chamber of Advocates Ara Zohrabyan
opened the event.

Representatives of the judiciary, the Human Rights Defender’s Office,
civil society and international organizations discussed the practice
of international human rights organizations in submission of amicus
briefs (written expert observations and opinions), including that
of the practice of the European Court of Human Rights. Written
observations submitted to the Constitutional Court of the Republic
of Armenia in 2012 by the Scientific and Analytical Centre at the
Chamber of Advocates were discussed.

Vice President of the Chamber of Advocates Ara Zohrabyan attached
importance to the development of the practice of submission of
amicus briefs in Armenia, since it is considered to be an additional
guarantee of protection of human rights and contributes to the raise
of effectiveness of court rulings.

President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan said “the third
party intervention will mark a breakthrough in the judicial field.”

From: A. Papazian

U.S. MAY BECOME KARABAKH’S BEST FRIEND, EXPERT SAYS

December 4, 2012 – 16:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia may become
increasingly isolated from Karabakh conflict settlement in case U.S.

intensifies its involvement in the process, a Russian political
analyst said.

“For Armenia, the most difficult part will be the inability to keep
Karabakh’s aspiration for sovereignty within necessary limits. The West
will strive to sovereignize Karabakh, while the credits promised will
become a strong enough force to make the latter forget about Armenia,
Russia or Azerbaijan,” Grigory Trofimchuk told Iаrex.

The expert is confident that the U.S. may become Karabakh’s best
friend, with nothing preventing the country from achieving its goal.

“To the U.S., Karabakh is an important tool in countering Turkish-Azeri
bloc in the region,” the expert noted.

From: A. Papazian

CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA AWARDED CHRIS BOHJALIAN WITH “MESROP MASHTOTS” MEDAL

16:09, 4 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Catholicsate of Cilicia hosted the
presentation of Chris Bohjalian “The Sandcastle Girls” on December
3 attended by Lebanese law making and executive body representatives.

As Anthelia informed Armenpress, Chris Bohjalian thanked for presenting
his authored book, dwelled on his Armenian and non Armenian roots. The
author of the bestseller recalled his childhood , days her mother
used to take him to his dead grandparents, old Bohjalian home, which
has left a deep impression on him.

Mr. Bohjalian expressed gratitude to Aram I and the people who have
organized the book presentation as well as to Khachik Muradian
for supporting the publishing of the book. Catholicos of Cilicia
considered Bohjalian message and love targeted to the generations of
great importance. Chris Bohjalian endured these events while writing
the book.This is a book penetrating roots of the Armenian Genocide,
which has been consistently planned and carried out by the Turkish
government. Concluding his speech, the Catholicos of Cilicia awarded
Chris Bohjalian with “Mesrop Mashtots” medal.

From: A. Papazian

HUSBAND KILLS HIS WIFE IN ARMENIA’S ARARAT

tert.am
04.12.12

Volodya M., 51, stabbed to death his wife Diana M., 35, in Armenia’s
Ararat at about 4.50 a.m. December 4.

According to the police press release, during a family fight, the
husband took a knife and a flower vase beating and stabbing his wife.

After killing her, the man fled the scene.

On the same day at about 7 a.m. Volodya M. came to the police
department and pleaded guilty.

A criminal case has been filed. Volodya M. is arrested. Investigation
is under way.

From: A. Papazian

TEN LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CASES OF ANTHRAX FOUND IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. House-to-house visits revealed 55 cases
with anthrax symptoms in Armenia, but only 10 cases of the disease
were confirmed after the laboratory analyses, press service of Armenian
ministry of health reported.

In October, several anthrax infection cases were recorded among
animals in Gegharkunik of Armenia. Later 21 people were hospitalized
with anthrax infection symptoms, but only one case of the disease
was confirmed after the laboratory analyses.

In the beginning of November, a woman from Ushi village of Aragatsotn
region was confirmed to have the disease. Cases of anthrax among
animals were also reported in Tavush and Armavir provinces.

People often apply to doctors even with small skin damage cases
in the nidus of the disease, which leads to higher probability of
misdiagnosis, says the report.

According to the report, there are currently no people hospitalized
with anthrax.

Preventive and anti-epidemic measures are under way.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease that may occur in a skin form,
more rarely intestine, lung and septic forms. The source of the
infection is domestic animals (cows, sheep, goats, pigs). Humans are
often infected through contact and while using foodstuffs contaminated
with spores, as well as through water, soil, fur clothing and other
contaminated material. No cases of infection from humans to humans
are recorded. The spores of the infection may survive in the soil
for up to a hundred years. ~V0–

From: A. Papazian

SUBMISSION OF AMICUS CURIAE BRIEFS IN ARMENIA TO BE DISCUSSED IN YEREVAN

ARMRADIO.AM
15:28 03.12.2012

The OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Chamber of Advocates will host a
discussion on third party intervention in domestic and international
litigations: culture of submission of amicus curiae briefs and related
developments in Armenia.

The President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, Human
Rights Officer of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Vladimir Tchountoulov
and Vice President of the RA Chamber of Advocates Ara Zohrabyan will
make opening speeches at the event.

Representatives from the Human Rights Defender’s Office, the judiciary,
civil society and international organizations will participate at
the event. The speakers at the discussion include Ara Zohrabyan,
Vahe Grigoryan, Artak Zeynalyan, Shushan Doydoyan, Gor Margaryan and
Irina Piloyan.

From: A. Papazian