NGOs cite downturn in Armenia’s human rights record
We witnessed egregious human rights violations in July 2016 with no follow-up explanations, Larisa Alaverdyan, Chairwoman at “The Foundation Against the Violation of Law” NGO stated on Friday at a discussion held at Media Center, ahead of the International Human Rights Day on December 10.
Alaverdyan noted that during the July events, when “Sasna Tsrer” armed group seized a police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district, protestors were subjected to arbitrary detentions without proper grounds and explanations. Wrapping up Armenia’s human rights record for 2016, Alaverdyan referred to what she called a ‘targeted violence against journalists’ labeling it a ‘disgrace’.
“No concrete measures and reaction followed those actions, and the incident remained unaddressed as an ordinary case,” Alaverdyan wondered.
Lawyer Artak Zeynalyan, present at the discussion, suggested Armenia has recorded ‘a considerable setback’ in the protection of human rights. The lawyer slammed the violence and excessive use of force by the police to disperse protestors during the hostage standoff, calling the police actions ‘cynicism’. In his words the reason was the previous violations had not been duly addressed both politically and legally with no one held responsible.
“If offenders are not punished thy are further encouraged to commit such acts,” said Zeynalyan. He went on further, insisting the July violations against reporters were deliberately orchestrated and aimed to silence and liquidate the media to cover the unfolding events.
Arthur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor office reminded other cases of human rights violations occurred in early 2016, Gevorg Safaryan’s, member of the Founding Parliament ‘unlawful detention’ among them.
“in 2016 Armenian authorities failed to pass the test in the sphere of the human right protection, moreover, persisting impunity for perpetrators of human rights violations” Sakunts said, recalling the July events when most of the detained protesters that taken not to police stations but to units of internal forces in violation of the existing law.
Sakunts complained that no official was held responsible for that and number of other unlawful actions against the citizens.