News Archive

As informed by the lawyer Arayik Papikyan, the Court of Cassation admitted the complaint into proceedings of mother of the police captain Hrachya Falanjyan murdered on May 13, 2016. It should be reminded that Hrachya Falanjyan had been the victim and Marietta Antonyan had been recognized as the successor of the victim at the beginning of the preliminary investigation, but later these legal statuses were abolished. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has a decision that it should also be provided a chance for a murdered person to be justified. However, his mother was not successful to obtain…

On March 7, 2019, the “Helsinki Association” human rights NGO is inviting a round-table meeting-discussion on the topic of “Advocating Advocates’ Rights”. The purpose of the discussion is to identify the existing shortcomings in the legislative field dealing with advocacy activities that seriously hinder active and effective functioning of the field actors, those various harassment and pressure they are subjected to while performing their professional duties, and to suggest potential steps aimed at the solution of challenges and legislative amendments, for further elaboration and proposals …

The Board of the Chamber of Advocates has initiated over a year 22 disciplinary proceedings against the “Helsinki Association” advocate Arayik Papikyan. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against not only Araik Papikyan, but also the “Sasna Tsrer”, the opposition leader Zhirayr Sefilyan and others’ defense lawyers accused of the involvement in the capture of the Patrol Service Regiment. The advocates had long been subjected to sanctions by the presiding judges while they tried to protect their and their clients’ legitimate interests and rights. During the proceedings, the defendants we…

In the history of 28-year-old independent Armenia, 11 amnesties were used in 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2018. In addition, after a month the amnesty was announced on July 5, 1995, on the occasion of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, another amnesty was announced, as the NA decision “to declare amnesty on the adoption of the Constitution” changed as a result of which the amnesty was also extended to Article 185 of the RA Criminal Code, (intentional destruction or damage to another’s property, which has caused significant damage) on th…

On February 19 and 20, the “Helsinki Association” human rights NGO invited a round-table discussion on the topic of “Armenia on the path to change: Tolerance against Violence.” Highlighting the relevance of the topic in the current political field, the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary forces were invited to the meeting. Unfortunately, only members of extra-parliamentary forces –  “Azgayin arajntac” (the National progress), “Sasna Tsrer” (the Daredevils of Sasun), “Kakhakatsu voroshum” (the Citizen’s Decision), “Azat Democratner” (the Free Democrats), and Azgayin inknoroshum m…

On 7 February, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court failed to acknowledge that basic principle in a case from Alabama concerning a Muslim inmate on death row. Domineque Ray requested to have an imam with him at the time of his execution. It was in no way an unusual request. Death-row inmates are routinely given access to members of the clergy or spiritual counselors. Holeman Correctional Facility, the Alabama prison where Ray was incarcerated, allows its own Christian chaplain to accompany inmates facing execution into the room where the procedure takes place, but correctional officials denied that…

World Report 2019 is Human Rights Watch’s 29th annual review of human rights practices around the globe. It summarizes key human rights issues in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide, drawing on events from late 2017 through November 2018. In his keynote essay, “World’s Autocrats Face Rising Resistance,” Human Rights Watch Executive Director Kenneth Roth argues that while autocrats and rights abusers often captured headlines in 2018, rights defenders pushed back and gained strength in unexpected ways. The 674-page book reflects extensive investigat…

The Freedom House has released the Freedom in the World 2019 Report. It addresses the state of democracy in different countries around the globe and also touched upon the state of democracy in Armenia. The section on Armenia can be found at this link.

Լույս է տեսել Freedom House կազմակերպության Freedom in the World 2019 զեկույցը, որը վերաբերում է աշխարհի տարբեր երկրներում ժողովրդավարության վիճակին: Զեկույցում անդրադարձ է կատարվել նաև ժողովրդավարության դրությանը Հայաստանում ։ Զեկույցի Հայաստանի վերաբերյալ հատվածն ամբողջությամբ կարող եք ծանոթանալ հետևյալ հղումով։