Students at a school in Hartashen village of Syunik region claim, that the village mayor has raped a 14-year old student of the the school. Continue reading
Most news reports and commentary on the adoption by the French Senate of the Bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide in Turkey in 1915 seem to miss the main aim the French legislators intended for it to achieve. I will argue in this Article that France’s decision should be seen as a giant step forward in the protection human rights, international law and order, historical and scientific integrity. Continue reading
Posted in Armenia, Legal, Region, Society
Tagged Armenian Genocide denial, Armenian people, France, Genocide denial, Nicolas Sarkozy, Parliament of France, Senate of France, Turkey
Adopting the “Law on Procurements” was one of the most important steps Armenia took since independence. This Law, among other changes, was a condition precedent for Armenia to enter the Council of Europe. Continue reading
Posted in Armenia, Legal, Politics
Tagged Armenia, Armenian Government, Government, Politics of Armenia, Procurement
President Serzh Sargsyan signed into law on Wednesday amendments to social legislation, which cuts the amount of maternity benefits for working mothers, causing public discontent and protests at the Presidential office. Continue reading
Posted in Armenia, Legal, Politics, Society
Tagged Armenia, Population, Population growth, Serzh Sargsyan
The controversial trial of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosian’s 7 prominent supporters de-facto ended today – separated into isolated cases by the ruling of judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan. The charge for “usurpation of state authority by force” was dropped, making the now separate cases against the oppositionists more “politically neutral”. RFE/RL carries the news:
The new twist in the so-called “case of the seven” resulted from the newly enacted amendments to Articles 225 and 300 of the Armenian Criminal Code used against the prominent supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian. The articles deal with provocation of street violence and “usurpation of state authority by force” respectively.
The judge ruled, that the seven oppositionists should stand separate trials for “provoking mass disorders and violence”, while the charge of “usurpation of state authority”, which was the main charge politicizing the case, was dropped.
While this means, that the trials will continue beyond the deadline of PACE April session, it also means, that the opposition will have fewer arguments in claiming that the seven oppositionists are “political prisoners” at the PACE’s upcoming session.
It will also disperse the “high profile” cloud from the case, making it harder for the society to follow.
All of this looks like a thoroghly considered plan for putting the oppositionists in jail for good (BtW: Shant Harutyunyan’s case had been suspended earlier in March while he undergoes psychiatric examination).
It also signalls the decisive stance of the authorities to punish political dissidence as the country heads into Yerevan’s municipal elections.
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Tagged Elections, Government, International Community, Justice, Legal, Opposition, Political
“In a highly controversial but anticipated ruling, a Yerevan court on Monday sentenced Gagik Jahangirian, a former deputy prosecutor-general linked to the Armenian opposition, to three years in prison for allegedly resisting police during his arrest last year,” RFE/RL reports.
Watching Jhangiryan demanding justice, I could not help, but smile at the irony of the situation. Jhangiryan, formerly also Armenia’s chief military prosecutor, knows very well what the Armenian law-enforcement and judicial systems are capable of. Continue reading
I just heard the best news for the Freedom of Speech in Armenia in the course of the past 7 years! A1plus has won the case against the RA Government in the European Court of Human Rights. Check out the text of the official judgment. Congratulations – A1plus.
The Armenian authorities will have to pay EUR 30,000 to A1plus – which is of course very little, but what is more important, is the precedent. Admittedly, the Armenian government has been loosing case after case in the European Court of Human Rights in the recent months. Here’s more from A1plus:
http://a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=61705
http://a1plus.am/en/?page=issue&iid=61709
In the magic land of Armenia, the legal order was proving its efficiency. Trials of law-breakers were proceeding so fast no one could keep track of them.
Not even judges. They could hardly keep order in their courtrooms but they were intent on keeping order in the country.
This time the magic had become more magical than ever. Not a single law enforcement officer had broken the law. On the contrary, order had been disrupted by citizens who did not agree with the authorities; and that was breaking the law. Continue reading
About 150 women had gathered in front of the general prosecutor’s office to demand fair trial and freedom for political prisoners. They also conveyed a letter to the prosecutor’s office.
“Today, we have not come here to celebrate our feast but we have come here to demand freedom for our husbands and men. Since they are in prisons, we cannot celebrate it,” says Heghine Harutyunyan, a participant of the action. That was included in the letter signed by the gathered women and conveyed to the general prosecutor’s office of Republic of Armenia.
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Posted in Armenia, Legal, Politics
Tagged Armenia, Demonstrations, Government, Opposition, Parties, Police, Politics, Protests, Rallies
The Devil’s Advocate
Lawyer Artur Grigoryan
An Armenian lawyer has filed a suit against “Hraparak” daily newspaper for not moderating readers’ comments on the paper’s online version, which supposedly damage the lawyer’s reputation and which he c onsiders offensive. Continue reading →
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Posted in Armenia, Legal, Society, Tech
Tagged Armenia, Armenian, case, Comments, court, defamation, Freedom of Speech, insult, libel, Newspaper