Helsinki Committee of Armenia published “Human Rights in Armenia 2013” report. The report touches on human rights, elections, judicial system, freedom of expression, violence, and impunity, political pursuits and so on.
According to the report, Armenia had made no progress in human rights, in 2013. There was also no progress in elections, too, a regress was marked in peaceful rallies, and the year of 2013 was marked by a series of political persecution and so on. It is also noted that this rating is repeated not only in local but also international human rights organizations reports. The report also talks about whether it is necessary to how to reform the political system in Armenia to improve the human rights situation.
Aravot.am referred the aforementioned question to Hranush Kharatyan, ethnographer, who finds, “Principally, we are lacking behind in activities and the conduct thereof. Of course, the whole election proceeded with violations of rights, but we were told to catch, bring and show to them, and when we were showing specific shooting, they were not taken into consideration. I think that the most serious problem is the judicial system. The major place for human rights violations is the court and the investigative bodies.”
The report also touches on the following. The main reason for the lack of progress in the field of human rights is that there is no separation in-between the authorities, de jure Armenia’s judicial system depends on the President of Armenia and Constitutionally it is said that the President shall shall strive to uphold the Constitution and to ensure the regular functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial powers. “Yes, indeed. I have always thought it is bad that the appointment of our judges depends on the president, but, on the other hand, I am also deeply convinced that the Constitutional Court does not depend on the will of the president, but it is not principal at large and is unable to make independent decisions, or his independent decisions are turned into political service,” finds Hranush Kharatyan, analyzing the abovementioned.
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In response to the question of whether you agree that there must be constitutional and legislative reforms to improve the areas of RA democracy and human rights, Hranush Kharatyan emphasized, “As far as I know, there are problems with protection of rights and issuing the rights in the laws, they are resolved if they do not talk about them, then, it is complicated. However, I believe that monopolization of our country’s economy in the Constitution is actually possible, I am deeply convinced that this point is a legal permission for the oligarchic economy. In many things, Armenia’ being a small country and not being prepared for enforcement of laws hampers the real life of Armenia. In our country, the majority of society is not ready to exercise rights, and this, unfortunately, is getting deeper.”
Eva HAKOBYAN
