Civil Control Archives
Right to civil disobedience
The right to civil disobedience, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of movement, freedom of speech, conscience, thought and freedom of religion make part of the incomplete list of the rights retained by each individual, person and citizen, regardless of their place of residence, nationality, ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation, education, social status and the nature of the dominant regime in the country. A person is entitled to make independent decisions, express his/her opinions freely, defend his/her right to freedom and if necessary, oppose illegality.
HCA Vanadzor Statement on RA Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2013 and Its Discussions at the RA National Assembly
On October 2, 2014, Karen Andreasyan, the RA Ombudsman, presented his Annual Report at the National Assembly. The Report covers the human rights situation in the Republic of Armenia, human rights violations and the systemic problems underlying them.
Azerbaijan: Stop pressuring human rights activist Leyla Yunus and her husband!
Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus were prevented from leaving Azerbaijan late on 28 April as they were about to leave for Paris and Brussels, where they were to attend an international event.
Khachik Asryan, I have the right to freedom of expression as much as Zaruhi Postanjyan does
Yesterday Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts applied to Gevorg Kostanyan with a claim to file a criminal case against Deputy Minister of the RA Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, RPA board member Khachik Asryan and subject him to liability under Article 137 of the RA Criminal Code to Article 137 of the RA Criminal Code, that is “Threat to murder, to inflict heavy damage to one’s health or to destroy property” is deemed a crime and it foresees criminal responsibility.
“Policy of Colorful Dressing Gown: from H.Harutyunyan to Serzh Sargsyan”
“Is Armenian Church concerned by the RA’s future in the Customs Union? The deep silence of the Armenian Apostolic Church, acting on behalf of the Armenian nation and Armenian statehood, is at least strange to me”, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts told GALA. In his opinion, it is the Armenian Apostolic Church which has ground s to express its disposition regarding RA’s future in the composition of the CU.
The solution will be painful, we will have human losses
After Putin came to power in 2000, it became more obvious that the RF had adopted the reanimation of the Soviet Union. In general, the Renaissance in the West is applied in its positive sense, since it relates to the return from medieval deep clerical domination of 1400 years to culture, which had been long forgotten. Putin’s “Renaissance” is more aimed to revive the Soviet Union. As a political leader, through his system of values he relies on totalitarian principles and in order to hide his nudity he does not want his state with such great resources to hold a marginal status, as the Soviet Union used to do for quite long years.
Today’s mood to leave the country did not exist even during 1991-1995, Artur Sakunts
According to him, as a result of all this, people see leaving the country as the only way out. “Despair is also one of the causes, there is no hope for situational change”, stated Sakunts stressing that even during the worst times of the country in 1991-1995, when were going through war, there was no such a mood to leave the country.
Artur Sakunts, “Certain Approaches of the CoE Congress are subjective”
To the question of Aravot.am whether the observations of the CoE Congress related to the elections of Yerevan city Avagani held on May 5, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts replied, “One part of the CoE Congress observations is grounded while the other is not. Certain approaches are subjective”. By continuing Mr. Sakunts stated, “The results compiled based on those observations are of greater importance. I do not understand they do not actually master or the information was provided as such. We have not met with the Congress in person”.
“The decision of accession to the Customs Union will be appealed in the Court”
Since September 3, everything possible has been done to accept the famous decision as indisputable. Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts expressed such an opinion at a discussion set up by “Partnership for Open Society” initiative. The latter added that with a group of lawyers they are working towards appealing the decision to join the Customs Union. To the question whether or not the Court will recognize the person submitting the claim as a proper claimant, Sakunts thinks it will, since they come up with the protection of public interests. He recalled the case of gratuitous alienation of Vanadzor city property when they applied to the Constitutional Court and the latter recognized their right to act as a plaintiff party.
“In case of accession to the CU, Armenia will concede part of its sovereignty”
«Serzh Sargsyan, acting on behalf of the RA President, has reached a decision on his own, it is true that pursuant to Article 55 of the RA Constitution, the RA president is authorized to represent his country in the relations with other states, but he cannot enjoy such an authorization and exercise his decision without consulting with other branches of the Government,” today Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts expressed such an opinion at a discussion on “Observation of the decision of membership to the CU within the framework of Armenia’s legal field”.
Evaluations of the Civil Society cannot be Diplomatic
In its strategy draft the Armenian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum reaffirms its disaccord expressed in the statement disseminated on September 17 with regard to September 3, 2013 statement of the RA President over accession to the CU. Pursuant to the draft, in the situation newly created in the country, the Armenian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum initiates certain changes in the strategic priorities and working style of its activities.
Urgent Letter
On October 24, 2013, V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, G. Lukashenko, President of Belarus, N. Nazarbaev, President of Kazakhstan approved the application of the President of the Republic of Armenia S. Sargsyan and President of Kirgizstan, A. Atambaev, to join the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.