Section 5. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights

Domestic and international human rights groups generally operated without government restrictions, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases. Although government officials were at times cooperative and responsive to their views, some also occasionally harassed activists.

In August Human Rights House Yerevan, an umbrella organization consisting of several human rights NGOs, reported pressure on and unequal treatment of attorneys involved in the defense of the members of the armed group Sasna Tsrer (see section 1.e.); the continuing prosecution of and threats against human rights defender Marina Poghosyan of the NGO Veles; impediments by state bodies and the Yerevan municipality against activities of LGBTI NGOs (see section 6); death threats on social media against Artur Sakunts of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly and others; an online harassment and smear campaign against human rights defenders, especially those focused on defending women’s and LGBTI rights; harassment of environmental activists by individuals linked to the governor of Syunik Province; and pressure against Daniel Ionnisyan of the UIC, after the UIC revealed the abuse of administrative resource by the ruling RPA (see sections 2 and 3).

Government Human Rights Bodies: The Office of the Human Rights Defender (the ombudsperson) has a mandate to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms from abuse at all levels of government. Legal changes that came into force in March broadened the scope of authority of the ombudsperson’s office to allow it to initiate legislation, to conduct legislative review from a human rights perspective, and to issue formal opinions and recommendations on judicial and executive malpractice. According to experts, however, the level of empowerment and resources of the ombudsperson’s office were not sufficient to implement the office’s new mandate.

ARMENIA 2017 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

https://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper