Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor just announced a contest for anyone interested in designing a logo for a new Human Rights Park.

On December 6, 2011, resident of Vanadzor, Lori Region, Gayane Hrayr Ghulinyan, applied to HCAV regarding the protection of the rights of her son, Davit Ayvazyan, a serviceman in the Askeran Army Unit. On December 23, 2011, our organization sent an E/2011 – 23.12/39 notice to the RA Ministry of Defense and as of this date has not received a response. 

HCA Vanadzor regularly receives complaints from citizens regarding instances of violence, inhuman and degrading treatment used against them at the police stations.

On December 29, 2011, authorized representatives of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor, Artak Zeynalyan and Arayik Ghazaryan, submitted a claim to the RA Constitutional Court to recognize that the provisions of Article 3 of the RA Law on Freedom of Information contradict Article 3 and Article 27 of the RA Constitution or Article 1 of the RA Constitution, and that the provisions of Articles 182, 185, and 262 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code contradict Articles 1, 14.1, and 27 of the RA Constitution, and should be considered invalid.

Arrestee Detention Facilities of the Police (ADF)

Suren Iskandaryan, Chairman of the Public Monitoring Group at the Detention Facilities of the RA Police, which wascreated in 2005, summarized the year of 2011 and said that there had been some achievements, however,  there are still problems and things to do.

The individual, who voluntarily goes to a medical institution to receive medical help, connected with use of drugs or other psychotropic substances without a medical prescription, is released from the administrative liability prescribed by law.

The booklet is attached (in Armenian).

Every individual has the right to receive free and paid medical help and care in the Republic of Armenia, irrespective of their nationality, race, sex, language, religion, age, health condition, and political or other views, social class, property or other conditions.

The booklet is attached (in Armenian).

On December 13, 2011, Zhoghovurd Daily published an article, entitled “A Man Slashed his Veins in the Prosecutor’s Office.”The examination of the circumstances indicated in the article revealed that there was an incident on the first floor of the administrative building of the Lori Region Prosecutor’s Office; however, the individual informing the newspaper was not conscientious and “gave” distorted information.  

On December 13, 2011 the Court of Common Jurisdiction of the Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts decided to take into proceedings and prepare the court examination of the complaint of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor against Vladimir Gasparyan, demanding that Vladimir Gasparyan compensate for damages caused to the honor, dignity, and business reputation of the organization.

Vilnius (4 December 2011)—In order to address the inadequate response of states and international organizations to ongoing human rights violations in Europe and Eurasia, 35 leading civil society organizations today launched Civic Solidarity, a new international platform for cooperation.

“Vladimir Gasparyan stood out only for personnel changes,” said Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, to 1in.am, in summarizing the first month of service of Vladimir Gasparyan. 

“Two days ago, I heard from a credible source that there was a discussion about attempting to fabricate a case against me. I was told that there was a conversation about instituting a criminal case against me regarding a crime report,” said human rights activist Artur Sakunts, who recently appeared in the focus of the “military patriotic” declarations of the representatives of the RA Authorities.

There was an impression from conversations with the Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, that the human rights activist had a particular respect for the First Deputy Minister of Defense, Davit Tonoyan. Months ago the deputy minister seemed to be satisfied with a meeting the two of them had.

Yesterday, the human rights activist and Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, Artur Sakunts, informed Zhoghovurd that HCAV received an alert that a citizen was invited to the Lori Region Prosecutor’s Office where he harmed himself.

On December 14, 2011, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor presented a manual noting the judicial cases initiated and conducted in 2001-2011.