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OUR AUTHORITIES ARE FORMER 'KGB-ISTS' AND HAVE INHERITED THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS HUMAN RIGHTS FROM THE USSR
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
August 8 2013
23 delegates from more than 10 member countries of the European Council
have presented a petition from all political groups for the adoption
of the resolution entitled "Mass wiretapping in Europe".
It will be in discussion on August 31. In the conversation with
Aravot.am, human rights defenders considered the existence and
application of human rights norms necessary, and expressed their
concern about the fact that the wiretapping is still considered normal
in Armenia.
Vardan Harutyunyan, head of "Rights and Freedom Center", in a
conversation with Aravot.am, noticed that wiretapping is a common
phenomenon for post-Soviet countries. "We always deal with wiretapping
phenomenon. No one will be surprised that now our conversation is
recorded." To the question, whether the application of only formulas
and rules are enough to get rid of this phenomenon, or the political
will of the leadership of the country is necessary, V. Harutyunyan
said: "It is possible that these formulas will affect Armenia in the
future. But for today's authorities, as well as for Ukraine, Belarus
authorities, it is incredible that they should not wiretap. I relate
this with giving up with the Soviet legacy. Our authorities manage
with the Soviet mentality. We have not been cut off from the Soviet
Union, we still live with the Soviet Union mentality and lifestyle. It
is directly connected with the fact that our authorities are former
"KGB-ists". Our national security has not become national security
of Armenia, it continues to remain a "KGB."
Artak Zeynalyan, a member of "Republic" party and human rights
defender, also signifies the application of legal norms in this issue
and detailed: "People should be protected from illegal interferences
to the rights to respect their privacy. It is impossible to rely only
on the political will. The authority should be limited by real and
effective legal regulatory mechanisms." To our question whether people
in Armenia are protected from wiretapping, A. Zeynalyan responded: "The
legal framework may be sufficient, but the law enforcement does not
apply in practice. Under the conditions of legal intervention, there is
still not enough guarantees and law enforcement practice to apply these
norms. The reason is in the perception that the man has this right, and
it is a fundamental right. There is no respect for human rights." With
regard to inertia traditions of the Soviet Union, Mr. Zeynalyan said
the following: "The attitude towards human rights that is available
in Armenia today is inherited from the Soviet Union. People do not
understand that they have this rights, and if interference occurs,
they can recover the right. The Courts issue numerous wiretapping
permissions but the individuals who have experienced such interference
to their rights are not afterwards notified about it and the body
conducting legal proceedings fails to inform them of the ways to
seek restitution for their rights." A. Zeynalyan believes that
the procedures in the Criminal Procedure Code should be clearly
defined, and the procedure on destruction of wiretapped records
should be developed, the procedures of the rights to participate in
its destruction should be developed. According to him, in case of
interventions by non-state bodies, the state bodies should protect
that rights, and implementers of illegal interventions should be
subjected to appropriate responsibilities.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/08/155922/
[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]
August 8 2013
23 delegates from more than 10 member countries of the European Council
have presented a petition from all political groups for the adoption
of the resolution entitled "Mass wiretapping in Europe".
It will be in discussion on August 31. In the conversation with
Aravot.am, human rights defenders considered the existence and
application of human rights norms necessary, and expressed their
concern about the fact that the wiretapping is still considered normal
in Armenia.
Vardan Harutyunyan, head of "Rights and Freedom Center", in a
conversation with Aravot.am, noticed that wiretapping is a common
phenomenon for post-Soviet countries. "We always deal with wiretapping
phenomenon. No one will be surprised that now our conversation is
recorded." To the question, whether the application of only formulas
and rules are enough to get rid of this phenomenon, or the political
will of the leadership of the country is necessary, V. Harutyunyan
said: "It is possible that these formulas will affect Armenia in the
future. But for today's authorities, as well as for Ukraine, Belarus
authorities, it is incredible that they should not wiretap. I relate
this with giving up with the Soviet legacy. Our authorities manage
with the Soviet mentality. We have not been cut off from the Soviet
Union, we still live with the Soviet Union mentality and lifestyle. It
is directly connected with the fact that our authorities are former
"KGB-ists". Our national security has not become national security
of Armenia, it continues to remain a "KGB."
Artak Zeynalyan, a member of "Republic" party and human rights
defender, also signifies the application of legal norms in this issue
and detailed: "People should be protected from illegal interferences
to the rights to respect their privacy. It is impossible to rely only
on the political will. The authority should be limited by real and
effective legal regulatory mechanisms." To our question whether people
in Armenia are protected from wiretapping, A. Zeynalyan responded: "The
legal framework may be sufficient, but the law enforcement does not
apply in practice. Under the conditions of legal intervention, there is
still not enough guarantees and law enforcement practice to apply these
norms. The reason is in the perception that the man has this right, and
it is a fundamental right. There is no respect for human rights." With
regard to inertia traditions of the Soviet Union, Mr. Zeynalyan said
the following: "The attitude towards human rights that is available
in Armenia today is inherited from the Soviet Union. People do not
understand that they have this rights, and if interference occurs,
they can recover the right. The Courts issue numerous wiretapping
permissions but the individuals who have experienced such interference
to their rights are not afterwards notified about it and the body
conducting legal proceedings fails to inform them of the ways to
seek restitution for their rights." A. Zeynalyan believes that
the procedures in the Criminal Procedure Code should be clearly
defined, and the procedure on destruction of wiretapped records
should be developed, the procedures of the rights to participate in
its destruction should be developed. According to him, in case of
interventions by non-state bodies, the state bodies should protect
that rights, and implementers of illegal interventions should be
subjected to appropriate responsibilities.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/08/155922/