Considering that one of the main goals of OSCE is the development of democratic institutions, we would like to bring to your attention flagrant human rights violations taking place in Mashtots park Yerevan. We strongly disagree with OSCE representatives’ assessment of police actions concerning protests in the park. The police has broken the law and violated fundamental rights for peaceful protests numerous times, especially during the “Dismantling” of the tent placed in the park. This is presented in detail in the statement of the Human Rights defender of RA and in the statements of our civic initiatives; we have also reported the criminal action to the General Prosecutor’s office and the Special Investigation Service of RA.
Following the responses of your office to the ongoing protests in the park, we believe that OSCE did not adequately assess and condemn violations of human rights and freedoms. On the contrary, an attempt is made to justify illegal actions of the RA Police.
We call upon you and other establishments and representatives of OSCE to revise the evil practice when inadequate and careless statements or decisions of an establishment or representative catalyze power structures’ violence against the society members. This happened after the presidential elections of 2008, when the first preliminary statement of OSCE/ODIHR gave an opportunity of using inadequate force, which brought to tragic results. The OSCE/ODIHR has its share of responsibility for it.
We are also aware that your office has been performing various programs with the police and Yerevan municipality, which aim at professional development and improved governance skills of these institutions and their employees. The events around Mashtots park demonstrate that those programs have not been effective and both institutions have failed meeting the expected results of accountable and transparent governance.
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Based on OSCE mandate, the problems concerning democratic governance, Armenia’s performance of its international obligations, access to justice and environmental protection should be directly discussed with the civic society, too.
“Save Teghut” civic initiative
“This City Belongs to Us” civic initiative
“Our City” civic-social initiative
