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AS OPPOSED TO THE FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT, ARMENIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES DON'T SEE ANY PROGRESS IN THE FIELD
http://www.aravot.am/en/2013/01/17/150681/
JANUARY 17, 2013 16:43
Freedom House Inc. published a report "Freedom in the World 2013,"
in which it also mentioned Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Although Armenia was described as Partly Free, as a year earlier,
according to the table in the report, where 1 represents the most
free and 7 the least free rating, the ratings of Political Rights
and Civil Liberties were 5 and 4 respectively. And the status of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which was described as Not Free last year,
has improved this year, becoming Partly Free, "due to a competitive
presidential vote in July." However, human rights advocates stated
during a conversation with www.aravot.am that as opposed to the
progress mentioned in the report, they didn't see any steps forward
in the field.
Human rights advocate Nina Karapetyants who dealt with Arman Veziryan's
case at the time, has no hopes that the situation will positively
change in the near future. She went into detail during a conversation
with us: "There can be no progress under these circumstances. We will
have an election in the short run, and I think the election, although
not expected to be active, will show anyway that there will still
be no progress for a long time, since our society is still not ready
for carrying changes through, and the government is not particularly
inclined to changes. Therefore, courts are not independent, courts,
which should be the main and most important bodies and be able to solve
contentious issues, are not independent in our country. Therefore,
we cannot expect that there may be progress."
Vardan Harutyunyan, the director of the Center for Freedom and
Rights, said in this regard: "They have their standards. It is a mere
mathematical formula. Armenia fits into those standards. However, it
doesn't mean anything, particularly given the fact that they haven't
changed the status of the Republic of Armenia. Armenia continues to be
among Partly Free countries. And the Republic of Armenia is compared
with Not Free countries. They compare Armenia with North Korea, Iran
and Uzbekistan and say that the Republic of Armenia is partly free
as compared to North Korea. Thus, one shouldn't be happy about that,
moreover, one shouldn't think that there has been progress. With regard
to Karabakh, it is significant that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has
eventually been removed from the list of Not Free countries, but it
doesn't mean that the Karabakh people should necessarily feel that."
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://www.aravot.am/en/2013/01/17/150681/
JANUARY 17, 2013 16:43
Freedom House Inc. published a report "Freedom in the World 2013,"
in which it also mentioned Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Although Armenia was described as Partly Free, as a year earlier,
according to the table in the report, where 1 represents the most
free and 7 the least free rating, the ratings of Political Rights
and Civil Liberties were 5 and 4 respectively. And the status of the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which was described as Not Free last year,
has improved this year, becoming Partly Free, "due to a competitive
presidential vote in July." However, human rights advocates stated
during a conversation with www.aravot.am that as opposed to the
progress mentioned in the report, they didn't see any steps forward
in the field.
Human rights advocate Nina Karapetyants who dealt with Arman Veziryan's
case at the time, has no hopes that the situation will positively
change in the near future. She went into detail during a conversation
with us: "There can be no progress under these circumstances. We will
have an election in the short run, and I think the election, although
not expected to be active, will show anyway that there will still
be no progress for a long time, since our society is still not ready
for carrying changes through, and the government is not particularly
inclined to changes. Therefore, courts are not independent, courts,
which should be the main and most important bodies and be able to solve
contentious issues, are not independent in our country. Therefore,
we cannot expect that there may be progress."
Vardan Harutyunyan, the director of the Center for Freedom and
Rights, said in this regard: "They have their standards. It is a mere
mathematical formula. Armenia fits into those standards. However, it
doesn't mean anything, particularly given the fact that they haven't
changed the status of the Republic of Armenia. Armenia continues to be
among Partly Free countries. And the Republic of Armenia is compared
with Not Free countries. They compare Armenia with North Korea, Iran
and Uzbekistan and say that the Republic of Armenia is partly free
as compared to North Korea. Thus, one shouldn't be happy about that,
moreover, one shouldn't think that there has been progress. With regard
to Karabakh, it is significant that the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has
eventually been removed from the list of Not Free countries, but it
doesn't mean that the Karabakh people should necessarily feel that."
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress