Author: Kanayan Tamar

VIOLENCE BY NEW CHIEF OF POLICE OF YEREVAN

Commenting on the appointment of Ashot Karapetyan as chief of police
of Yerevan, Advocate Vahe Grigoryan posted on his Facebook wall that
his name features in the opposition activist Grisha Virabyan’s case
who eventually went to the European Court of Human Rights, and the
ECtHR ruled in his favor. Below are some excerpts from the judgment
on Virabyan v. Armenia. A.K. is the newly appointed chief of police
of Yerevan.

17. The applicant further alleges that, some minutes after police
officer A.M. had left the office, police officer H.M. entered and
started swearing at him. Police officer H.M. then approached him and
kicked him on the left side of his chest and punched him in the face.

The applicant grabbed the mobile phone charger which was on the desk
and hit police officer H.M. Having heard the noise of the scuffle,
three other police officers entered the office and took him to another
room. About ten minutes later police officer H.M. and another police
officer, A.A., came to that room and started brutally beating him.

After they left the room, another police officer, A.K., entered the
room and started hitting him in the area of his scrotum with a metal
object. He was then handcuffed and police officer A.K. continued
punching and kicking him below the waist, after which he lost
consciousness.

36. On 25 April 2004 the applicant was questioned as a suspect at
the hospital by investigator M. and made the following statement:

36 “…Then other officers came and took [H.M. and A.A.] out. I would
like to indicate that at the very beginning both [H.M. and A.A.]
kicked me on my testicles. Some while after [H.M. and A.A.] had
been taken away from the office, [another police officer A.K.] came
to the office [(I learned his name and position from other officers
after the incident)] and started swearing at me, trying to humiliate
me, twice spat on me and punched my testicles[. Then] he kicked my
feet several times and left. Before leaving he hit me again on my
testicles with his keys. [A.K.], before beating me in the office,
ordered everybody to leave, saying that he was going to abuse me.”

38. On 27 April 2004 the applicant was again questioned as a suspect
at the hospital by investigator M. He was asked about the kind of
conversation he had had at the police station before the incident,
concerning the fact that he had been carrying a firearm. The applicant
replied that none of the police officers had asked him about any
firearm. The only thing he had been asked about was why he was
attending demonstrations and taking others with him. Such questions
were asked by police officer H.M. Furthermore, while police officer
A.K. was beating him, he was asking him which of the opposition
leaders was encouraging his activity. The applicant also added that
police officer A.K. had ordered that he be handcuffed with his hands
behind his back, after which he started beating him in that position.

{“itemid”:[“001-113302”]}

18:15 16/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:

ORANGE COUNTY TO HOST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION EVENT

April 16, 2013 – 18:44 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – This year’s annual community wide commemoration of
the Armenian Genocide will take place on April 21, 2013. The event
is organized by the Armenian National Committee of America Orange
County Chapter (ANCA-OC) which has once again brought the Armenian
community of together to present a unified front on this important
national issue, Asbarez reports.

The program includes musical performances by accomplished Armenian
artists Armenian Public Radio, Ayline, and Greg Hosharian, along with
Orange County’s very own Green K.A.R.D., a local OC band comprised of
AYF members, and Hasmik Piliposyan, a current student at UCI. There
will also be a special presentation by the AGBU Manoogian Demirjian
School Drama Conservatory ArtReach project “Voices from the Genocide,”
and recitals by the A.G. Minassian Armenian school students. A number
of short videos will also be screened during the program.

The participating organizations in this year’s event once again
represent the entire Armenian community of Orange County and include
the following: ACYO, AGBU Orange County Saturday School, A.G.

Minassian Armenian School, ARF Armen Karo Gomideh, ARS Karni chapter
and Saturday School, ARS Sevan chapter and Saturday school, AYF Ashod
Yergat, AYF Aghpiur Serop Juniors, Forty Martyrs Armenian Church,
Hamazkayin Siamanto, Homenetmen Sardarabad, Orange County Armenian
Professional Society (OCAPS), St. Mary Armenian Church, and UCI
Armenian Students Association (ASA).

The “Unity is Our Strength” motto was adopted by the Orange County
Armenian community organizations during a February meeting organized
by the ARF Armen Karo Gomideh.

“Over the past few years the organizations have been working much more
closely with each other, but the ARF’s proactive steps in reaching out
to everyone and being inclusive has created stronger ties in Orange
County with unprecedented levels of cooperation and coordination,”
said ANCA OC board member Talar Malakian.

PRESS RELEASE
ARS of Western USA, Inc.
Regional Office
517 W. Glenoaks Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91202
Tel: 818-500-1343
Fax: 818-242-3732
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web:
FB:

Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive

ARS Chapter Honorees and ARS Central Executive Members Annie
Kechichian and Rosie Bedrossian with ARS Members Who Have Served for
50 or More Years

ARS Gala Fetes Large Donations, Honors 46 Members and Unveils New
Website

For Armenian Relief Society of Western USA (ARS-WUSA) members and
supporters, the weekend of April 5 to 7, 2013, gave great cause to
celebrate. The announcements of $250,000 in pledges and donations and
the honoring of 46 ARS volunteers created a very festive mood at the
Gala on Friday, April 5. There was a chance to acknowledge the
consistent and loyal support of long-time members, some serving in the
ARS for as long as 50 years, at Saturday’s Member
Appreciation Day festivities. And there was the opportunity to take
stock of accomplishments and be reminded of the roots of the
organization and its mission during ARS Day on Sunday.Read
More ()

Suzanne & Sam Solakyans, Major Banquet Sponsors, with Lena Bozoyan,
ARS-WUSA Regional Executive Chairperson

Antranig Baghdassarian, who has been a long-time supporter of the ARS
of Western USA, was honored with the ARS Legacy Award.He
decided to establish an ARS endowment fund in the amount of $100,000,
for battered women in honor of Seta Baghdassarian, his wife, who left
her mark on the ARS Araxi Boulghourjian Socio-Medical Centre in
Beirut, Lebanon. Read More ()

Councilmember Paul Kerkorian, Dr. Nyree Derderian, Lena Bozoyan, Rita
Hintlian and Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian

The Regional Executive honored Dr. Nyree Derderian and Rita
Hintlianfor their volunteer efforts, unconditionally serving
the ARS and sister organizations and being inspiring role models and
committed `HOM-ouhies’.Congressman Adam
Schiff issued Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition to
both honorees in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to
the community. Derderian and Hintlian also received Certificates of
Recognition from California Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian. Read More
()

Click on the photo to view ARS Gala photos of these and other sponsors

Gala Program with Listing of Sponsors
()

Upcoming Chapter Events

On Friday, May 3, 2013, at 7 pm, the ARS Mayr Hollywood Chapter is
holding a 95th anniversary banquet at Renaissance Hall, 1236
S. Central Ave., Glendale.

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, the ARS Anahid Chapter will hold a Mother’s
Day in San Fernando Valley.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, the ARS Sosse Chapter of Pasadena and ARS
Lori Chapter of North San Fernando Valley will hold Mother’s Day
luncheons.

The ARS Garin Chapter of San Francisco is celebrating 80 years of
service on Saturday, May 18, 2013, at 7 pm at Khachadourian Armenian
Community Center, Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco,
CA.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2013, the ARS Anahid Chapter will have a picnic
to celebrate Ascension Day (Hampartsum).

Passing on the Torch

Three generations of Armenian Relief Society (ARS) members
participated in the ARS Day Celebration on April 7, 2013, at the First
Baptist Church of Glendale. The program, which was attended by a full
house, also included ARS Saturday School students and the Glendale
Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Michael Avedissian, along with
Soprano Nune Genjoyan and Tenor Suren Lazarian.

Read More ()Read in
Armenian ()

View ARS videos ()

`The ARS confirms what I have always wondered about the
Armenian community: that Armenian men are strong and together they can
move mountains; but Armenian women can move the entire world.”
Congressman Adam Schiff

ARS Erepouni Chapter Celebrates Armenian School’s 20th
Anniversary

On March 17, 2013, the ARS Oakland Erepouni Chapter held a festive
celebration of its weekly Armenian school’s 20th
anniversary at the St. Vartan Armenian Church hall in Oakland. Read
More ()

ARS Sepan Chapter’s 26th Fashion Show

400 guests enjoyed the ARS Glendale Sepan Chapter’s Fashion Show held
on March 9, 2013 at the Glendale Hilton Hotel. Chapter Executive
member Asdghig Chitilian and Chairperson Christine Hovnanian delivered
remarks. The event featured designer Aida Gharakhani, who presented
her Nicole Bakti collection. The event’s major sponsor, Alice
Navasargian, was presented with a plaque in appreciation of her
support. Read More in Armenian ()

98th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

The Armenian community of Greater Los Angeles will commemorate the
98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on Wednesday, April 24,
2013, at the Armenian Genocide Monument at Bicknell Park in Montebello.
The program will start at 1:30 p.m. and conclude at 3:30 p.m.

PRESS RELEASE
RAFFI HOVANNISIAN HEADQUARTERS
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]
Website:

16 April 2013

APRIL 9, 2013 – AN ACCOUNTING

One week has passed since the April 9 inauguration of a New Armenia.
Other political forces–and the media and analysts retained by
them–have had ample opportunity to circulate their own version of
events, often relying on misinformation and downright lies. We shall
not compete with them. We do feel, however, that we must give a brief
accounting to our people.

This is what happened on April 9, 2013.

At 12pm, as Serzh Sargsyan takes a false oath on the Bible in the
company of an elite entourage, Raffi K. Hovannisian presides over a
massive assembly of citizens at Liberty Square. more than 60,000
Armenians raise their right hand for the inauguration of a New
Armenia. They dissolve their bonds with the illegally elected
authorities and vow to struggle peacefully for democracy.

Raffi Hovannisian announces that a concert will soon begin and asks
that the Armenians reconvene at 6pm for a march through the streets of
their capital. He descends into the crowd, where he is met with the
voice of the people, which says: `Let us march now.’ Within five
minutes Hovannisian is at the podium again to announce that he will
listen to the voice of the people–he will walk with them now.

Hovannisian leads the Armenians down to Republic Square and then to
the statue of Miasnikyan–the setting of the tragedies of March 1,
2008, where he lays flowers and vows `Never again’–and then up to St.
Hovhannes Church, where he lights a candle, and then on Proshyan
Street toward Baghramyan Boulevard.

The people are stopped at the intersection of Proshyan and
Demirchyan–just on the other side of the walls of the presidential
dacha–by a police barricade reinforced by special units. After
refusing to grant access to Proshyan or Demirchyan streets, the police
eventually retract, giving passage to Hovannisian and his followers on
Demirchyan and down beside the Tumanyan House Museum (`Aprek erekhek
bayts mez pes chaprek’) and to Liberty Square.

There the concert is already finished, and Raffi Hovannisian announces
to the crowd that he will return at 6pm for the previously announced
march. Hovannisian leaves Liberty Square to organize his MPs to follow
reports of arrests and visit detained protestors in several police
precincts and to demand their release.

At 6pm a huge crowd has gathered again at Liberty Square. Raffi
Hovannisian announces publically that he will march up Baghramyan
Boulevard, pass the presidential office at Baghramyan 26, and lead his
people to Tsitsernakaberd to light candles for the 1.5 million who
were murdered in 1915 and the 1.5 million who have since 1991 chosen
to leave their country but who must and will return.

Hovannisian marches out of Liberty Square and toward Mashtots
Boulevard, where a police barricade has been set. Calling the
barricade unconstitutional, Hovannisian is the first to break through
the barricade. He leads the people onto the street. They march up
Mashtots and veer left on Baghramyan and proceed beyond the
intersection of Baghramyan and Saryan, where another police barricade
is set, but this one more strongly enforced by various special units.
After demanding that the Armenian people’s right to walk peacefully be
restored, and being refused again and again, Hovannisian begins to
walk into the barricade. He is on the frontline, alongside his wife
and son, his team, and supporters.

The police begin to push back the citizens, often using excessive
force. Several policemen beat Armen Martirosyan and smash his nose.
Arrests are made. Hovannisian is thrown to the ground. But he
continues on his knees to push through the barricade. His wife is
smashed between police shields and is cast to the ground. Her knees
are torn and bloody. She and her husband and son are stampeded by the
police, who continue to push and beat the Armenians. Hovannisian gets
up from the ground, defiant. He walks for the barricades again.

The chief of police now appears, and Raffi reaffirms his demand to him
and the generals gathered there. He pushes into them again. By this
time more special units have been brought. People continue to be
beaten and arrested. Seeing the violence around him, and the
disintegrating chaos (professional, government-sent provocateurs are
everywhere, untouched by the police), Hovannisian decides to lead his
people to Tsitsernakaberd using another route–through Saryan.

Hovannisian turns his back on the police and walks through the thick
crowd and toward Saryan with his bloody and bare-footed wife and son
and supporters. The chief of police and many of the police and much of
the crowd follow him.

At this time there is an organized campaign of misinformation.
Government men whisper that Raffi is now negotiating with the chief of
police and that he will be back soon. For this reason, thousands of
people, including many among Hovannisian’s team–Zaruhi Postanjyan,
Styopa Safaryan, Hovsep Khurshudyan, Tevan Poghosyan, David
Sanasaryan, and others–stay behind. They, too, assume that Raffi will
be back. They stand between the people and the police.

But the fact is that Hovannisian is walking to Tsitsernakaberd, with
thousands of people behind him. Almost at Tsitsernakaberd, as he
demands from the chief of police that all arrested protestors be
released, Hovannisian learns that thousands of people are still at
Baghramyan, and are defying police orders to move out of the street.
Individual activists are making speeches, and Hovannisian tells
Postanjyan to tell the people that he will come back to handle the
situation.

Immediately after lighting candles and praying with fellow citizens at
Tsitsernakaberd, Raffi urgently returns to Baghramyan to lead his
people. He rushes to the front lines again and faces the barricade
again, demanding that the right of passage be allowed. This is the
third time on April 9 that Hovannisian and his supporters have
demanded to walk on Baghramyan, and Hovannisian asserts to the chief
of police and generals and citizens that he will not move out of the
way and he will not tell his people to go home. The road must be
opened; the citizens shall walk.

Hovannisian stands firmly with his people until eventually the police
retract their previous statements that it is impossible to walk on
Baghramyan that day, and allows Hovannisian to lead his march up
Baghramyan.

In front of the presidential palace, the Armenians stand to sing `Mer
Hayrenik’ together. Then they proceed peacefully to Proshyan, walking
the exact reverse of the route they had wanted to walk earlier in the
day. They make a left at Demirchyan, right on Baghramyan, and return
to Liberty Square. There Raffi announces to the Armenian people that
the struggle will continue until victory.

ANALYSYS

Despite Hovannisian’s best efforts blood was spilled on the streets of
Yerevan. But it was his own blood, his wife’s blood, Armen
Martirosyan’s blood, and the blood of his closest supporters. And he
did everything to prevent any violence of a larger-scale. And he was
always on the frontlines–a true leader of his people.

Several times that day the police bowed to the people’s will–they
said they would not allow citizens to walk on Demirchyan around
2:30pm, then they did allow; they said citizens would not be allowed
on Baghramyan at 10pm, then they did allow–and, at the end of the
day, all protestors were released from police precincts.

On April 9, 2013, Raffi Hovannisian revealed his faith and dedication
to our struggle. He was, on the one side, a true president of the
people–administering the oath of unity and declaring the principles
of a struggle that is based on peace, but at the same time a
principled rejection of false authority. And he proved himself to be a
warrior: willing to struggle, to be on the frontlines, to stand
always–in body and spirit–as the leader of the people.

Raffi Hovannisian Headquarters
16 April 2013
Yerevan

HEMOPHILIA PATIENTS FACE DRUG SHORTAGE IN ARMENIA

13:47 ~U 17.04.13

The Armenian Association for Patients with Hemophilia has difficulty
in supplying beneficiaries with necessary drugs, the organization’s
president has said.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Tanya Khachatryan expressed
concerns over the the low drug quantity which often affects the
treatment effectiveness.

“As a developing country, we draw parallels with other states, and we
observe a low rate of drug supply. We are hopeful that the government
will pay a due attention to the problem, because a preventive treatment
with drugs is much more effective,” she noted.

Khachatryan said that 70% of the hemophilia patients in Armenia have
a disability status. She noted further that Minister of Health Derenik
Demirchyan has promised to ensure the necessary supply of drugs.

“Ministers, unfortunately, change very often here, and we every
time start things from scratch. And once we reach a certain point,
the minister is replaced,” she said.

Smbat Daghbashayn, Armenia’s chief hematologist also attending the
news conference, noted for his part that the medicines for hemophilia
patients are very expensive and often obtained from blood donors
whose number is very low in Armenia. He said the society too, has to
be interested in the problem and agree to be a blood donor for those
who are ill.

“The surgery is performed in the frameworks of government funding,
with each intervention costing $50,000. Our centers performed around
20,000 operations in the past four years,” he said, adding that the
necessary supply of drugs could help a patient avoid a surgery.

“If there are drugs, we can perform more operations,” Daghbashayn
added.

Both specialists confirmed at the end that 30 hemophilia patients
are now in need of a surgical intervention in Armenia.

WE HAVE CHANCE TO WIN EVEN UNDER THIS SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE -YEREVAN FORMER MAYOR

April 17, 2013 | 12:51

YEREVAN. – The public knows the opposition Armenian National Congress
(ANC) more by its discourse at the squares, but it seemed we were not
present following last year’s parliamentary election. But we need
to present ourselves now. Capital city Yerevan Former Mayor Vahagn
Khachatryan, who heads the ANC list for the forthcoming Yerevan
Council election, said this during a press conference on Wednesday.

He noted that the main emphasis of the aforesaid vote is the political
and the urban economy.

“No matter what kind of elections is conducted in Armenia, we will
not achieve success if the system of governance does not change. Our
failures are political because the law does not function in Armenia,”
he said.

Khachatryan stressed that, unlike the recent presidential election,
there is a greater climate of fear ahead of the Yerevan voting.

“We understand very well what the Yerevan Council and the office
of the Mayor of Yerevan mean for the authorities, and therefore the
authorities need to do everything to win in this political battle,”
he maintained.

The former Yerevan Mayor added, however, that the authorities’
triumph in this election depends on whether or not the opposition
forces will collaborate.

“Considering that the people are truly tired of these authorities,
under this system of governance, we have a chance to win even with four
[opposition] forces,” Vahagn Khachatryan said.

He added that the opposition forces have a willingness to cooperate
in the Yerevan Council election.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

PASSIONS OVER UNFINISHED METRO LINE RISE AS YEREVAN MAYORAL POLLS DRAW NEAR

10:52 ~U 17.04.13

The unfinished subway vaults in capital Yerevan are a heritage from
the late-Soviet era that have to be completed and put into operation,
a former mayor of Yerevan now running for the City Council as an
opposition candidate said on Tuesday.

Speaking to the local TV channel Kentron, Vahagn Khachatryan (Armenian
National Congress) explained that the unfinished metro lines’ idle
state is unacceptable and inexplicable in terms of facilitating the
transport communication in the capital. He said that the territory
where the vaults were dug later came to be replenished with private
houses which covered the subway line.

The line was designed to connect the Barekamutyun subway station to
the administrative district of Ajapnyak. Asked to comment on the
feasibility of such a plan given that the houses are a private
property difficult to pull down, Khachatryan said that the situation
demands the exceptional approach for declaring the territory as the
state’s prevailing interest.

All the political forces running for the City Council promise in their
election platforms to replenish or modernize the Yerevan metro line.

In further comments to Tert.am, Deputy Mayor of Yerevan Kamo Areyan
said he considers the statement strange given that all subway stations
are normally built underground. “All stations have apartment blocks
and public buildings overground. This shouldn’t be something new,” he
said, considering the issue of trivial importance.

Areyan added that the negotiations with banks over the metro line
construction project have helped find and propose new project
solutions. “More effective routes will be selected, depending on the
population’s demand,” he said.

Commenting on the remark, Khachatryan questioned the sensibility of
such an approach. “There were no buildings on the territory I
mentioned. So the fact cannot but be considered,” he told our
correspondent, noting that the presence of building will require a
different kind of project proposing new expenses.

Apart from the metro line modernization, Khachatryan also proposes a
serious plan for re-establishing the tram communication in Yerevan,
considering it an ecologically purer and comfortable means of
transport, imparting a unique coloring to the city.

Asked whether the Republican has such an intention, Areyan said they
consider small- and medium-sized passenger buses the most effective
transport means for Yerevan. He downplayed his contender’s remark
about the coloring, saying the task of meeting the public demands
admits of no emotions.

Armenian News – Tert.am

KAREN DEMIRCHYAN: “KAMO, KNOW, THEY WILL KILL ME” (VIDEO)

2013-04-17 11:09:04

Today is Armenian party and state leader Karen Demirchyan’s birthday.

Karen Demirchyan was born on April 17, 1932. He was Soviet and Armenian
politician. He served as the First Secretary of the Armenian Soviet
Socialist Republic from 1974 to 1988. Soon after his reemergence into
active politics in independent Armenia in the late 1990s, he became
speaker of the Armenian parliament in 1999 until his assassination with
other politicians in parliament in the Armenian parliament shooting.

Demirchyan had a difficult childhood. Both his parents died when
he was still an infant. He decided on a career in engineering,
and took up studies at the Yerevan Polytechnical Institute in
1949. After graduating in 1954 he worked briefly for a research
institute in Leningrad before returning to Armenia to join the Yerevan
Electrotechnical Factory. A member of the Communist Party since 1954,
he soon became secretary of the factory party committee.

His party career flourished and in 1959 was sent to Moscow to the
Higher Party School, gaining his diploma in 1961, a prerequisite
for higher party service. He returned to work as chief engineer of
the Yerevan Electrotechnical Factory and later director. In 1966 he
became third secretary of the Yerevan party committee, joining the
secretariat of the Armenian Central Committee in 1972.

Demirchyan was elected first secretary of the Armenian Communist Party
in November 1974, effectively the boss of Soviet Armenia. Two years
later he also became chairman of the Armenian Supreme Soviet. During
his fourteen-year rule, Armenia was prosperous by Soviet standards,
its economy helped by semi-legal and illegal businesses. However,
Demirchyan failed to quell popular demonstrations in Armenia calling
for Nagorno-Karabakh to be transferred to Armenian jurisdiction. He
lost the support of the Moscow Kremlin leadership and was removed
“on health grounds” in May 1988.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 when Armenia regained
its independence, Demirchyan became director of the Hayelectromekena
electrical equipment plant, the biggest plant in Armenia. He kept out
of politics and was a half-forgotten figure from the past, until his
surprise reemergence into politics in 1998.

Although not a member of any political party, he contested the March
1998 presidential elections, managing to garner 30 per cent of the
votes in the first round and 40 per cent in the second-round run-off
against the eventual winner, Robert Kocharyan. He later formed the
People’s Party, teaming up with defense minister Vazgen Sargsyan
to form the Miasnutyun (Unity) alliance to contest the May 1999
parliamentary elections.

The alliance won with 43 per cent of the vote and the majority of
parliamentary seats. Demirchyan was overwhelmingly elected speaker in
June 1999. Four months later, on October 27, he, Sargsyan and other
senior politicians were assassinated in the Armenian Parliament.

EUROPE MUST HELP GEORGIA AND ARMENIA, OR RUSSIA WILL

In Georgia and Armenia I saw how vital European integration will be to
a fragile post-Soviet spring

Sigrid Rausing
The Guardian, Wednesday 17 April 2013

Yerevan, the Armenian capital, with Mount Ararat in the background.

‘This could have been a landscape of extraordinary beauty; instead it
was depleted and scarred by nearly a century of bad or indifferent
governance.’ Photograph: Maxim Shipenkov/EPA I recently travelled
to Georgia and Armenia to meet human rights groups. After two days
in Georgia we drove east, the hilly landscape gradually turning
mountainous, sheep and cattle tended by shepherds in littered,
post-Soviet villages. For a long time the road followed a small river,
plastic trash snagging on rocks and branches. This could have been
a landscape of extraordinary beauty; instead it was depleted and
scarred by nearly a century of bad or indifferent governance.

Crossing the border into Armenia, the river was still there, the
litter now older, almost indistinguishable from the brown water and
grey rock. There were remnants of the Soviet state – giant concrete
chutes channelling water from the steep mountains, occasional blocks
of flats now, like the rubbish, taking on the colour of the dark
earth. In one valley ruins from the earthquake in 1988 stood like
archaeological remains.

Every village we drove through was half abandoned – the falling down
houses haphazardly mended with metal sheets or planks of wood. Whole
families move if they can, otherwise women and children remain while
the men join the migrant labour force in Russia, sending meagre
remittances home. I know there were children in these villages,
because occasionally laundry – the only colour in this bleak world –
hung from wires, drying in the still dusk. We saw no people, and no
shops. We saw no other cars.

In Britain we sometimes forget the harsh reality behind the talk of
human rights in transitional states. Human rights language is the same
the world over, bland and institutional. Thus in Georgia many groups
talked about “prison reform”. The issue in fact was the widespread use
of torture, revealed when secret footage was released of detainees
raped with broom handles or burned with cigarettes, guards looking
on, indifferent to the screams. The victims were ordinary criminals;
this was part of police and prison routine. After the release of the
footage, thousands of people took to the streets, the minister for
corrections had to resign; 16 out of 17 prison directors were fired.

Some claim the footage was staged; no one, however, disputes that
those things went on.

Other groups talked about “corruption” and “transparency”. Here is one
case: an Armenian shopkeeper is visited by tax officials, demanding
a bribe. He refuses, and takes them to court. Several years and many
court cases later he wins his case, but by now the same tax officials
have so terrorised his suppliers that he can’t stay in business.

In Armenia campaigners talked about “hospital reform”. Many people with
learning disabilities rather than mental illness are institutionalised
in mental hospitals. Even if you are let out, once in the system you
can be committed at any time in the future by a doctor’s order.

The human rights activists (some former dissidents) we met steadfastly
rely on, and believe in, the European court of human rights in
Strasbourg, despite the fact that tens of thousands of cases are
languishing there in a seemingly permanent backlog. It’s all they have.

European solidarity is an empty concept to most British people,
at least judging from the media. But democracy and the rule of law
on the margins of Europe matter to all of us. Georgia and Armenia,
and 14 other nations, are in talks with the EU under the European
neighbourhood policy. It offers a degree of economic integration
in return for a commitment to democracy and human rights, the rule
of law, market economy principles and sustainable development. Free
trade for good governance – it’s a win-win deal.

In Georgia and Armenia, however, so long after the fall of the Soviet
Union, the state is still weak – and occasionally thuggish – the
economies are largely oligarchical, and there is a lack of watchdog
institutes – that function is almost entirely given over to civil
society. As in all former Soviet republics, there is a history of
institutional brutality and indifference lingering on in the army,
the prisons, hospitals and orphanages.

And yet people in Yerevan, the capital, talked hopefully of an
Armenian spring. Serge Sarkisian, the president (and Putin ally), won
a second term in the recent election, but not with anything like the
Soviet-style 90% majority pollsters had suggested. Significant numbers
of ballot papers had been spoiled. (The fact that one candidate,
a former dissident, was shot and wounded in January may have
contributed to voter disaffection.) The main opposition candidate,
the American-born Raffi Hovannisian (37% of the vote), held a shadow
swearing-in ceremony on 9 April.

In this region, as in any other, individuals come and go, and
sometimes, as we have seen in Georgia, good people turn bad. European
integration is the best bet for good governance. The alternative
for Armenia is Russia, where NGOs receiving foreign funding are now
required to register as “foreign agents”. European trade agreements
and human rights requirements must be better than that, for them and
for us.

Sigrid Rausing travelled to Georgia and Armenia with the Open Society
Institute

HRAPARAK: RULING PARTY COLLECTS ABSENT CITIZENS’ NAMES

08:48 ~U 17.04.13

The paper says it has learned from “well-informed sources” that the
ruling Republican Party of Armenia has started an inquiry into absent
citizens’ records ahead of the Yerevan mayoral elections.

It reportedly collects those people’s personal data from the police
passport desks to facilitate the re-election of its candidate,
incumbent Mayor Taron Margaryan.

But the political parties running for election are now aware of that
and have the list of voters absent from the country, says the paper,
adding that election commission members and proxies will follow the
voting in each precinct station on the election day (which is may 5)
to prevent false voting attempts and call for liability (including
criminal) against those engaged in such practices.

“Such a consolidation among the political parties interested in fair
voting inspires hopes for a future collaboration,” the paper says,
commenting on the report.

Armenian News – Tert.am