On the morning of April 22, Nikol Pashinyan, leader of the #RejectSerzh protest movement and Member of Parliament, met with Prime Minister Serzh Sarsgyan. The meeting took place in the Marriott Armenia hotel and lasted only three minutes. Below is the English translation of the conversation.

SS – First of all, I’m happy you responded to my numerous appeals to negotiate. Although, speaking frankly, I can’t really understand how can we negotiate at the presence of dozens of reporters. I’m glad nonetheless.

NP – I think there is a misunderstanding  because when yesterday we talked about Mr. [Serzh] Sargsyan, I had very clearly stated our position that we’re not talking about dialogue, as you proposed, but the agenda that we have brought forward. I have come here to discuss the terms of your resignation and the terms of a peaceful and smooth transition of power. Therefore, I call on you not to use the term “dialogue.”

SS – These are not negotiations. Ok, it’s not negotiations, it’s not a dialogue, it’s an ultimatum, blackmail to the state, to the legitimate authorities. You do not realize the extent of responsibility, you have not learned from the events of March 1 [2008], and if it’s the tone of speaking, then all that is left for me to do is once again advise you to act legally and within the boundaries of logical actions. Otherwise all responsibility lies on you. Choose.

NP – Mr Sargsyan, I want to be very clear. No one has dared to and can dare to speak to us in the language of threats. I say you do not realize the situation in Armenia now, it’s not what you’re used to know – 15, 20 days ago. The situation in the Republic of Armenia has changed. You don’t have the authority which your people report to you. The power of the Republic of Armenia has already passed to the hands of the people.  That’s first of all.

SS – The bloc [Parliamentary YELQ faction] that has received 7-8 percent of people’s vote in the elections has no right to speak in the name of the entire nation. And I have no wish to continue this conversation with you. If you do not want to comply with legitimate demands… [stands up and leaves] . And I ask you, the reporters, to make your conclusions yourselves.

NP – I’m telling you that all our actions are legitimate. Good bye. You can make conclusions yourself. I would like to record that … (video ends)

After Serzh Sargsyan left Nikol Pashinyan made a statement, calling on the citizens to continue their protest against Serzh Sargsyan.

https://www.civilnet.am/news/2018/04/22/The-Conversation-of-Nikol-Pashinyan-Serzh-Sargsyan/334457

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

“I BELIEVE that one person must not aspire to the reins of power more than twice in a lifetime,” Serzh Sargsyan, then president of Armenia, declared in 2014. But the unpopular Mr Sargsyan, whose second (and final) consecutive term as president expired on April 9th, was just kidding. On April 17th the national assembly, stacked with loyalists, elected him as the country’s new prime minister. Even many members of the biggest “opposition” group voted for him. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Vladimir Putin must be smiling.

Around 10,000 protesters in Yerevan, the capital, took to the streets before the vote, chanting “Reject Serzh!” Police used tear-gas to disperse them. With hindsight Mr Sargsyan’s intentions have long been clear. Constitutional changes he enacted in December 2015, which take effect this month, grant the prime minister nearly all the powers previously held by the president. The amendments also scrapped direct elections for the presidency, ensuring that this post too is occupied by one of Mr Sargsyan’s yes-men.

Mr Sargsyan insists that a parliamentary system will strengthen democracy. Many Armenians are unconvinced. Hovsep Khurshudyan of the Armenian Centre for National and International Studies, a think-tank, calls the change “groundless”. The new, convoluted electoral system almost guarantees Mr Sargsyan’s Republican party a majority.

After a decade in power, Mr Sargsyan has little to boast of. The economy, reliant on remittances from Russia, has barely grown. Unemployment is at nearly 20%. Three in ten Armenians fall below a poverty line of $2.90 a day, more than in 2008. The borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are closed. Foreign investors are deterred by corruption. Oligarchs control the main industries, Mr Sargsyan among them.

The new prime minister has a three-pronged agenda. First comes economic integration with the European Union, Armenia’s second-largest trading partner after Russia. On April 11th the national assembly ratified a “partnership agreement” committing to more regulatory harmonisation with the EU. Second is stemming depopulation. Around 300,000 Armenians, fully 10% of the total, have left the country since 2008. Last year Mr Sargsyan set a target population of 4m by 2040. The last prong is making Armenia an information-technology powerhouse.

These goals are not particularly realistic. The partnership agreement with the EU is a weaker version of an association agreement which Mr Sargsyan turned down in 2013, choosing instead to join Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union. The population target entails no concrete proposals. Mr Sargsyan wants to tempt back some of the 7m-10m ethnic Armenians abroad, but it is unclear how many want to return. Armenia’s IT sector is the fastest-growing part of the economy, making up 7% of GDP in 2017, but it is mainly known for its cheap labour. And there is tough competition from Ukraine and Romania. Mr Sargsyan’s stint in his new job is likely to be underwhelming. Soon, he may come to appreciate the wisdom of his words from 2014.

https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21740804-having-prudently-transferred-powers-premiership-president-serzh-sargsyan-assumes

WARSAW, 19 April 2018 – Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today urged the authorities in Armenia to protect and ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in the country, as protests there continue.

“All people have a fundamental right to express their opinion in peaceful protests,” the ODIHR Director said. “Law enforcement authorities must not only refrain from interfering with the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, but have a responsibility to facilitate this right. This includes ensuring the safety and security of participants in the face of any disruptions, such as by agent provocateurs or counter-protestors.”

While noting the offer by the Armenian authorities to engage in dialogue with the opposition, Gísladóttir expressed concern over reported instances of the disproportionate use of force by Armenian police against peaceful protestors, including minors, as well as indiscriminate arrests in Yerevan and other cities.

“The authorities must make certain that any measures to ensure public security are lawful, necessary and proportionate, and are not aimed at muting dissenting opinions,” Gísladóttir said.

https://www.osce.org/odihr/378325

Late in the evening of April 17, 2018, at the rally held by the initiatives “My Step” and “Reject Serzh” at the Republic Square in Yerevan, it was announced that the peaceful acts of civil disobedience by the rally participants would continue the following day. At the same time, there was a warning against the existence of groups of provocateurs. Hours after the announcement, clashes were provoked by such groups of provocateurs with police officers, citizens and journalists at the Mashtots-Tumanyan intersection. These clashes were accompanied by damage to community property and police cars. It is seen from the disseminated video that these acts had not been initiated or committed by peaceful protesters. We hold that such acts of provocation were aimed at paving the way for the police to carry out criminal prosecution against protesters. In the statement released on April 18, 2018, the RA Prosecutor’s Office claims that the mass disorders of the previous day at the Mashtots-Tumanyan intersection were organized by rally participants and reports on the initiation of a criminal case under Article 225 § 1 and 2 of the RA Criminal Code. Nevertheless, although numerous police officers and cars were present while the acts were being carried out by the group of provocateurs at the Mashtots-Tumanyan intersection, as reported by the RA Investigative Committee, no person involved in those clashes has been detained. Instead, on April 17 and 18, the RA Police forcibly and groundlessly subjected peaceful protesters, including minors, to mass detention and are trying to involve them as suspects in the organization and execution of mass disorders. Taking into consideration the available videos from the scene as well as the peaceful behavior demonstrated by protesters up to now, we state that criminal prosecution against them is unacceptable and unlawful.

We demand that the RA Police should:

identify persons inciting provocation and violence, ensuring the security of citizens,

including peaceful protesters,  cease the criminal and administrative prosecution against peaceful protesters and  

exclude any use of violence against peaceful protesters.

We call upon the RA Special Investigation Service to:

immediately carry out investigation in regard to the incidents of violence and other unlawful acts against protesters by police officers (including those in civilian clothing) and  

immediately carry out investigation in regard to unlawfully holdings peaceful protesters in police stations for longer than the established period of three hours.   

Organizations that joined the statement:

“Agate” Rights Defense Center for Women with Disabilities NGO

Open Society Foundations-Armenia Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation NGO

Disability Info NGO Yeghegnadzor Civil Youth Center Yerevan Press Club NGO

Foundation against the Violation of Law NGO

Journalists’ Club “Asparez” My Human Rights Defender NGO

Ijevan Civil Youth Center Real World, Real People NGO

Human Rights Power NGO

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

“Agricultural Association Lukashin” Consumer Cooperative Peace Dialogue NGO

Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression NGO

Women’s Rights Center NGO

Women’s Resource Center NGO

Armenian Helsinki Committee NGO

Public Journalism Club NGO

Institute of Public Policy NGO

Advanced Public Research Group NGO

Public Advocates Union NGO Helsinki Association Human Rights NGO

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor NGO

Spiritual Armenia NGO

Hrazdan Civil Youth Center Human Rights Research Center NGO

Meghri Women’s Research Center NGO

New Generation Humanitarian NGO

Radio “Hay Gyumri”

Veles Human Rights NGO

Pink Armenia NGO

Colorful House Social-cultural and Human Rights NGO

Khoran Ard Intellectual NGO

Union of Informed Citizens 

Armenian  Innocence Project

“Khazer Ecological-Cultural” NGO  

Individuals who joined the statement:

Ani Aghagulyan, human rights defender, YSU PHD

Narine Galstyan, student

Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, human rights defender

http://hcav.am/en/events/statement-on-persecutions-against-protesters/

We note the significant protests taking place in Yerevan and other cities in Armenia, as thousands of Armenian citizens have taken to the streets to exercise their right to expression and peaceful assembly. We are monitoring closely ongoing protests in downtown Yerevan and other cities in Armenia.
We are encouraged by the responsible and respectful behavior of the vast majority of protestors and police throughout the last several days. We are troubled, however, by reports of sporadic clashes between police and protesters, including some injuries. We encourage both government authorities and the protesters to exercise restraint and avoid any escalatory or violent actions.

Photo © Sofia Manukyan/The Armenian Weekly

Armenian parliamentarians have today appointed Serzh Sargsyan as prime minister, solidifying his grip on power just eight days after his presidency ended.

The appointment came as demonstrators and Armenian riot police clashed amid a wave of peaceful protests accusing the longtime former president of a “power grab’. Since Friday, demonstrators have been rallying in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, and around the country following last week’s announcement by the Ruling Party that it will nominate outgoing president Sargsyan to be prime minister. 

Armenia’s transition to a parliamentary republic was approved in a deeply contested referendum in December 2015 and is now in place. This handed more power to the prime minister and downgraded the role of president to more of a figurehead position.

According to latest reports, Armenian police have detained over 80 people, including at least 29 civil society activists. Demonstrators have been blocking public streets and public transport, as well as surrounding government buildings. Dozens of protesters were hurt yesterday in clashes with police barring the path to Parliament.

The disproportionate reaction by the police (including the use of stun grenades – see statement by the Armenian Bar Association Human Rights Watch Committee) to the protests has caused outrage amongst civil society and is seen by many as yet another illustration of the arbitrary use of force by Armenian police and hostile environment facing civil society activists in the country.

The right to peaceful assembly at the core of any functioning democratic system and should be protected. EED extends our full solidarity with the people and groups protesting peacefully.

https://www.democracyendowment.eu/news/news-nationwide-protests-as-armenias-outgoing-president-elected-pm-1/

Protest against Armenia’s ruling Republican party’s nomination of former President Serzh Sarksyan as its candidate for prime minister, in Yerevan, Armenia April 13, 2018. © 2018 Grigor Yeritsyan

Since Friday, protests have swept Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, on news that the country’s outgoing president – who has served the maximum two terms – plans to become prime minister.

Parliament is set to vote for prime minster tomorrow, and the president, Serzh Sargsyan, is the ruling party’s candidate.

The demonstrations in Yerevan – attracting thousands of protesters – have been led by prominent opposition parliament member Nikol Pashinian. He called on people to engage in civil disobedience, including by forming a human chain around parliament to prevent members from entering and voting. Rallies took place throughout the weekend. This morning, thousands of people started blocking major streets and bridges. 

The movement’s leaders have urged protesters to be peaceful, and most of the rallies across the city have been. But protesters and police briefly clashed this afternoon, when demonstrators broke through a police barrier near the parliament building. Police allegedly used stun grenades. As a result of clashes, 40 protesters and six policemen were taken to the hospital.

One media report said police detained four protesters who were blocking a road, releasing them about two hours later without charge, and protesters who held a sit-in on a road were assaulted by frustrated motorists and men in black T-shirts. Police were slow to intervene. At least one injured protester was reportedly taken to the hospital and discharged this evening.

As I write this, hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are protesting on Baghramian Street near the parliament building. They’re separated from a police cordon by several meters and barbed wire fence. So far police have refrained from breaking up the crowd, but issued warnings calling on the crowd to disperse. The situation is tense.

I can’t help remembering demonstrations in Yerevan from the past few years, when police used excessive force to break up largely peaceful crowds. In June 2015, police beat up and used water cannons against people protesting electricity price hikes. I personally knew several people who were injured. In July 2016, police beat and used stun grenades against largely peaceful protesters, wounding dozens. Yet no police have been held criminally accountable.

Armenia’s authorities should protect people’s right to peaceful assembly. Any police response needs to be proportionate and in line with United Nations law enforcement standards. It is never too late for Armenia’s police to turn around their poor record on using excessive force.

Anahit Chilingaryan

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/04/16/protests-surge-armenia

On April  06, at 10: 00, the Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts (Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan) will examine the fabricated criminal case against human rights defender Marina Poghosyan.

Please attend the trial and cover it, thus contributing to the transparency and objectivity of the investigation.

Marina Poghosyan has been prosecuted since the foundation of the Veles NGO. The authorities do their best to silent her. This short video presents the motivation of the oppressions against the human rights defender.

On March 2, 2018, the president of “Veles” human rights NGO, Marina Poghosyan, filed to the RA Prosecutor General a report on crime concerning the powers of attorney which contain suspicious content and signatures and which appear periodically in criminal case No. 14149815.

The differences between the signatures on a power of attorney presented by Hrant Ananyan and those on other documents has given grounds for a reasonable suspicion that the presented power of attorney was signed not by Saro Mark Meras and Suren David Meras, but by another person or persons, which, in its turn, testifies that a forgery was committed by the person or persons who had signed the given power of attorney.

Report on crime

A press conference will take place on March 5 at 12:00 in the press hall of “Noyan Tapan” news agency (Isahakian 28th floor) with participation of human rights defenders and lawyers.

The topic of the case is “Illegal criminal prosecution against human rights defender Marina Poghosyan”.

The speakers are:

Lawyers:
Liparit Simonyan
Mushegh Shushanyan

Human rights defenders:
Artur Sakunts
Nina Karapetyants
Marina Poghosyan

http://nt.am/am/events/28554/

See the full report here

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/armenia/report-armenia/

POL1067002018ENGLISH

For the first time, the European Court of Human Rights has been examining a case of violence against an Armenian human rights defender: on the case of Marina Poghosyan, the president of the “Veles”  human rights  NGO, the Court has passed to the communication stage of questions addressed to the Government of Armenia.

It should be reminded that on March 17, 2014, during the eviction of a family dwelling in Abovyan Street in Yerevan, officers of the Compulsory Enforcement Service of Judicial Acts executed abuse against the oldest member of the family, 77-year-old Zina Gyozalyan. After she had arrived at the scene, the human rights defender Marina Poghosyan tried to prevent violence, but in the result she herself was subjected to violence and humiliation.

In particular, the CES officers first deprived the human rights defender of freedom by locking her behind the door of one of the rooms and not allowing her to leave the place. Then, a little later, the door was opened, Poghosyan was pulled out from the place and thrown on the concrete stairs. Poghosyan was caused bodily injuries, which are proved by a medical paper.

Yet, the criminal case initiated on the grounds of the violence against Poghosyan was quashed and appealing in the courts of Armenia did not bring any results; the courts rejected Poghosyan’s appeal, and soon after it she applied to the European Court of Human Rights.

The complaint was submitted by the advocate Haykuhi Harutyunyan, who in her interview with the Arajin Lratvakan (the First News Agency) mentioned that, according to her information, this was the first case when the Court examined a case filed from Armenia related to violence against a human rights defender. “In the procedural aspect, the Court gives priority to examination of cases related to lawyers, advocates and human rights defenders. That is why only two years after the complaint has been sent, it has already communicated the case”, Haykuhi Harutyunyan says.

It should be noted that due to the heavy burden of the Court the consideration of complaints filed to the ECHR usually takes a lot longer, whereas in this case questions have already been addressed to the Government and a date has fixed for responses, which is May 22, 2018. The advocate thinks that the ECHR will make a decision on Poghosyan’s case in the middle of next year.

Particularly, the Court requested the Government to clarify whether Marina Poghosyan had been subjected to degrading treatment and whether the investigation of violence against a person had been effective.

Haykuhi Harutyunyan is convinced that the European Court will satisfy Poghosyan’s complaint. “I was confident that Marina Poghosyan’s rights had been violated, consequently we applied to the European Court. If the Court finds that there exists  violation of Article 3 of the Convention, it will be pointed out that a need for more restrained behaviour by representatives of the state body towards actions of human rights defenders is emphasized”, the advocate says.

In her interview with the Arajin Lratvakan the human rights defender Marina Poghosyan mentioned that she was not really excited that the violation of the rights of a RA citizen and a human rights defender would be recorded not by Armenian courts, but by an international court. “I am sorry that in our country we are unable to reach justice because our courts still remain dependent and do not dare to make decisions according to the law, and we have to record the fact of violation of our rights at a supranational body”.

By the way, violence against Marina Poghosyan took place when Ida Melikyan’s family was evicted from their last residence. The latter claims that she has become a victim of usury and fraud by Hovhannes Yeritsyan, the former head of the Civil Aviation of Armenia. The “Veles” NGO is going on representing Ida Melikyan’s interests in Armenian courts.

http://www.1in.am/2297738.html