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OMBUDSMAN'S REPORT: SECTION RELATED TO 2008 POST-ELECTION UNREST TRIGGERS DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS | 21.10.14 | 14:21
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/57804/armenia_ombudsman_report_opposition_march_1
Photo: www.parliament.am
By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The 2013 report regarding the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman)
elicited heated discussions in the National Assembly, specifically
because of the reference to the March 1, 2008 post-election events.
Opposition MPs underline Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan's emphasis on
the fact that for six years no information has been provided by the
investigation, despite issuing constant concerns regarding the March
1 case.
"The opposition insisted on creating a permanent commission, but the
government refused. Who believes that it is impossible to expose
the crime? It must have been done a long time ago, but nobody has
answered since, thus, everything is being done to hide the crime,"
Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction MP Stepan Demirchyan said
at the NA on October 20.
Another ANC faction member, Nikol Pashinyan, also underlined the fact
that the Ombudsman's report reflected on the March 1, 2008 clashes
in which 10 people were killed as security forces were used to end
post-election street protests.
"The March 1 crimes will be detected only after the change of
government, but not in case of backstage government transformation...
Nobody was forgotten, nothing is forgotten, and all participants of
the March 1 murders must expect for justice to knock at their door
and come after them," Pashinyan said.
It is noteworthy that Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan reflected
on some oppositional MPs' speeches saying that instead of discussing
the Ombudsman's report they introduce their own 'worries' to attract
various social layers.
"An MP can give evaluation, criticize from the NA platform, however it
is senseless to bring a verdict," Sahakyan said pointing at Heritage
faction MP Zaruhi Postanjyan's speech in which she presented a
"verdict" to President Serzh Sargsyan.
"The fact that the Ombudsman raises such questions is due to the upward
progressing process of that institution. We appreciate its activity,
it is the only one to stay in fight all the time, just like in the
whole world," the parliament speaker added.
It is noteworthy that the Ombudsman also got criticized. Even though
independent MP Edmon Marukyan agreed that the report presented this
year to the NA is better than last year's, still the Ombudsman,
Karen Andreasyan is not a reachable person.
"You have a problem of being unreachable, your office staff, of course,
quickly responds, but you must stay reachable for the common people,
your position implies that."
"Recently one of my colleagues and I were invited to the Ombudsman's
office for a discussion, and it turned out that you are in Armenia
but not present at the discussion. I was astonished, you invite MPs
and you are not present, and later you say that we do not cooperate,"
Marukyan mentioned.
Instead of discussing the Prosecutor's Office activities on the same
level as marital problems are, the MP advised that Karen Andreasyan's
office should address, for instance, the issue of independent
commissions of penitentiaries.
"Massive violations take place here, the accused cannot use their
right of parole, and such decisions are not subject to appeal."
From: Baghdasarian
HUMAN RIGHTS | 21.10.14 | 14:21
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/57804/armenia_ombudsman_report_opposition_march_1
Photo: www.parliament.am
By SARA KHOJOYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
The 2013 report regarding the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman)
elicited heated discussions in the National Assembly, specifically
because of the reference to the March 1, 2008 post-election events.
Opposition MPs underline Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan's emphasis on
the fact that for six years no information has been provided by the
investigation, despite issuing constant concerns regarding the March
1 case.
"The opposition insisted on creating a permanent commission, but the
government refused. Who believes that it is impossible to expose
the crime? It must have been done a long time ago, but nobody has
answered since, thus, everything is being done to hide the crime,"
Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction MP Stepan Demirchyan said
at the NA on October 20.
Another ANC faction member, Nikol Pashinyan, also underlined the fact
that the Ombudsman's report reflected on the March 1, 2008 clashes
in which 10 people were killed as security forces were used to end
post-election street protests.
"The March 1 crimes will be detected only after the change of
government, but not in case of backstage government transformation...
Nobody was forgotten, nothing is forgotten, and all participants of
the March 1 murders must expect for justice to knock at their door
and come after them," Pashinyan said.
It is noteworthy that Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan reflected
on some oppositional MPs' speeches saying that instead of discussing
the Ombudsman's report they introduce their own 'worries' to attract
various social layers.
"An MP can give evaluation, criticize from the NA platform, however it
is senseless to bring a verdict," Sahakyan said pointing at Heritage
faction MP Zaruhi Postanjyan's speech in which she presented a
"verdict" to President Serzh Sargsyan.
"The fact that the Ombudsman raises such questions is due to the upward
progressing process of that institution. We appreciate its activity,
it is the only one to stay in fight all the time, just like in the
whole world," the parliament speaker added.
It is noteworthy that the Ombudsman also got criticized. Even though
independent MP Edmon Marukyan agreed that the report presented this
year to the NA is better than last year's, still the Ombudsman,
Karen Andreasyan is not a reachable person.
"You have a problem of being unreachable, your office staff, of course,
quickly responds, but you must stay reachable for the common people,
your position implies that."
"Recently one of my colleagues and I were invited to the Ombudsman's
office for a discussion, and it turned out that you are in Armenia
but not present at the discussion. I was astonished, you invite MPs
and you are not present, and later you say that we do not cooperate,"
Marukyan mentioned.
Instead of discussing the Prosecutor's Office activities on the same
level as marital problems are, the MP advised that Karen Andreasyan's
office should address, for instance, the issue of independent
commissions of penitentiaries.
"Massive violations take place here, the accused cannot use their
right of parole, and such decisions are not subject to appeal."
From: Baghdasarian