Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, released its annual report (World Report 2014) on protection of human rights in the world, which in separate sections also referred to the presidential and local government elections held in Armenia, freedom of rallies, assaults to activists, abuses in the army, freedom of expression, sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Regarding local and presidential elections held in Armenia, Human Rights Watch report states, “President Serzh Sargsyan was re-elected in February, while the Republican Party gained the majority of votes in the Yerevan city council elections held in May. Although the two elections were generally well organized, however, both were overshadowed by the reports on absence of police response to exerting pressure on the voters, election bribery, and abuse of administrative resources in favor of the incumbent candidates and citizens’ complaints.”
Aravot.am asked Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Committee, whether these negative estimates are also due to Armenian members to the Customs Union, or the real picture of the situation is presented. Mr. Ishkhanyan answered, “Human Rights Watch is an independent human rights defending organization that is not funded by the state. Should we have referred to, let’s say, the American State Department report, maybe we could have similar doubts, but this organization is an unbiased organization, it criticizes even human rights abuses in the United States. I have never seen politics in its reports. Real, unbiased picture is depicted here.” Artur Sakunts, head of HCA Vanadzor office, said the following regarding the same issue, “This organization is independent and accession to the Customs Union could not have any effect. The information related to human rights violations can nowise be due to political expediency and political interests. The estimates given in the report are real; we have also provided such estimates. Bribery, apprehension of voters, police inaction about the alarm regarding election bribes, and so on.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
