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In adopting a resolution on Thursday on the basis of a report by Sir Roger Gale (United Kingdom, EC/DA) – report which take stock of the PACE monitoring activities from January to December 2019 and makes assessments of the progress of the countries subject to a monitoring procedure or engaged in post-monitoring dialogue – the Assembly welcomed the positive developments and the progress made during this period or expressed concern about remaining shortcomings in a number of countries “that undermine their democratic consolidation”, as well as making specific recommendations to the countries concerned.

The adopted text recalls that there are ten countries under a full monitoring procedure (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine), and three countries engaged in a post-monitoring dialogue (Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia).

The resolution welcomes the organisation of parliamentary elections in Armenia in line with international standards, its commitment to combat corruption and to reform the judiciary with a view to strengthening its independence. 

Meanwhile, the PACE expresses its concern about the challenges faced by Armenia’s judiciary from all sides in ensuring its independence and impartiality, continuing prevalence in the Armenian society of intolerance and negative stereotypes regarding LGTBI persons and other minorities and the obstacles placed by some groups in society in the way of the still outstanding ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.

The Assembly urges the Armenian authorities to step up the reform of the justice system with a view to strengthening its independence and efficiency while refraining from any actions that could be perceived as putting pressure, or interfering in the work of the judiciary and to continue strengthening the rights of women as well as LGBTI persons and other minorities.