13:30 . 24/05
The international human rights organization Amnesty International has published its annual 2012 report on the freedoms and human rights protection in the world. Touching upon Armenia, the report says three main problems give rise to concern: freedom of assembly, ill-treatment towards the arrested and imprisonment of those who avoid military service because of religious views.
Radio Station Liberty writes that touching upon the freedom of Assemblies, the organization states some progress in this sphere was recorded in 2011. A reformed law was adopted, the ban on public gathering in Azatutyun Square was lifted. “However, a number of issues still give rise to concern,” Amnesty International states and adds: “The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights reported in May about the unlawful and disproportionate impediments to the right of peaceful assembly, such as intimidation and arrest of participants, disruption of transportation means and blanket prohibitions against assemblies in certain places.”
Making a reference to the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, the report states that the new Law on Assemblies is largely in accordance with international standards, but concerns remained. In this respect, the Commission highlighted the Law’s blanket prohibition against assemblies organized within a certain distance from the presidential residence, the national assembly and courts. Besides, it gives a generalized justification for banning the assemblies.
In the report Armenia was also criticized for the ill-treatment against detainees and suspects in police stations. “The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s February report stated that many detainees and prisoners had complained of torture and beatings, while prosecutors and judges frequently refused to admit evidence of ill-treatment during court proceedings”.
Amnesty International notes that besides the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has also published a report on the same accusations and last year based on the commitments assumed to US, Armenia established an independent body to monitor places of detention.
At the end of the report on Armenia the human rights organization also touches upon prisoners of conscience stating that in 2011, 60 men were still in places of detention for avoiding military service because of their convictions. “Alternative military service continues to remain under the discretion of the armed forces,” Amnesty international states, according to Radio Station Liberty.
