US State Department: Human rights seriously violated in Armenia

"In 2005, serious problems existed in Armenia with regard to human rights." This is contained in the Report on Human Rights of the US State Department annually published early in March.

The Report states that, in conformance with the country's legislation, the internationally recognized human rights are protected in Armenia, however, "such laws are not always enforced and in some cases are consistently violated."

One of the main violations mentioned in the Report is limitation of human rights with regard to change of power. International observers have confirmed that the 2003 Presidential and parliamentary elections failed to comply with international standards. The 2005 referendum on constitutional changes was again conducted with serious violations.

The Report notes that, in the course of the 2005 referendum, similar to the 2003 elections, ballot boxes were stolen, and unidentified persons who had no powers or privileges were watching voters and instructed them how to vote. The State department also indicates that the number of people who took part in the referendum did not match the final data in the official protocols, while opposition observers were blocked from the electoral process. Moreover, the Government refused to invite OSCE observers to the referendum. The results are well-known.

Meanwhile, the State Department considers the amendments to the Constitution per se to be a step forward in establishing a system of democracy, control over the President's power, and also from the point of view of creating a more independent judicial system, however, "good laws do not prevent the authorities from violating them."

The Report notes that the authorities not only preclude the possibility for people to change power by way of elections, but also interfere with their private life. The issue is about secret tapping sometimes used by the power authorities.

Such power authorities as police, security services and the army are paid special attention to in the Report. It mentions undiscovered murders in the armed forces and beatings of citizens by the police, arrests without the court sanction. The Report pays attention to the atmosphere of permissiveness and impunity among police officers.

In 2005, there were problems in the justice system as well: the courts are subjected to a political pressure by the authorities, and corruption in the system is a serious factor. No normal conditions exist in the imprisonment facilities.

As regards freedom of speech and press, according to the Report, the mass media are under political and economic control of the authorities. Some journalists sometimes are persecuted, others have to resort to self-censorship. "Odd discontinuance of re-broadcasting of the "Liberty" radio (on the referendum day and on two subsequent days), done by the National Radio of Armenia is also mentioned.

The State Department notes that women's rights are neglected in Armenia, the society is intolerant to religious minorities, there are no normal conditions for disabled people