Grigor Minasyan, RPA member, listed in RPA list on Yerevan municipal elections, Managing shareholder of AM Law Firm, PhD, answered the question of Aravot.am regarding “Human Rights in Armenia 2013” report published by Armenia’s Helsinki Committee, according to which, Armenia has not made progress in the human rights in 2013, there was no progress in the elections, too, there was a regress in the peaceful rallies and the year 2013 was notable with political persecutions, and so on.
And this assessment was repeated not only in local, but also international human rights organizations reports. In response to the question of whether reforms in political system of Armenia are necessary for improvement of human rights situation, Grigor Minasyan answered, “I do not agree with some of your raised estimates, because they are over-dramatized and blacken everything and every positive thing that had happened last year, and in some cases they are simply not true. For example, even in the reports of international organizations containing the harshest criticism, there is a special emphasis on how the 2013 elections were better organized, or how much progress has been made during the elections in the field of freedom of expression and rallies. As for the original question, I must agree that the improvement of human rights situation is in direct proportion to the reform of the political system. The life of our people will become more prosperous when political forces are able to discuss, understand in-depth and offer constructive solutions to systemic problems. Unfortunately, civilized political mechanism of solving problems is still not fully developed in Armenia.” To the next question of in your opinion the improvement in the areas of democracy and human rights requires constitutional and legislative reforms, Grigor Minasyan responded, “I agree, it is so not only in Armenia, but also everywhere. This process is perpetual and constant even in the most developed democratic countries, and I think that the constitutional reform committee recently established by the President of Armenia and expected constitutional amendments constitute part of this process.” With regard to the question of whether the main reason for the lack of progress in the field of human rights is not that there is a separation of authorities, de jure Armenia’s judicial system depends on the President of Armenia, and it is defined by the Constitution that the President shall strive to uphold the Constitution and to ensure the regular functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial powers, Grigor Minasyan thinks that de jure legal system is completely independent from all other wings of the authorities, at the same time noting, “De facto, not all judges are independent from third parties’ pressures, side effects and unnecessary interference in their activities. I fully agree that full protection of human rights is impossible without an independent and just court, in other words, a system where the vast majority of judges shall make disinterested, impartial, and legal rulings. In my advocacy activities, we often face such rulings, but, unfortunately, they still do not make up the overwhelming majority.”
Eva Hakobyan
