Numerous faults in Armenia pointed out in U.S. State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015
YEREVAN, April 15. /ARKA/. The U.S. Department of the State has issued its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015.
In its report, the U.S. Department of the State pointed out numerous aspects of human rights violation in Armenia.
As the most significant human rights problems during the year, the report points out officials’ use of government resources to maintain the dominance of the ruling RPA, use of economic and political power by the country’s elite to enrich supporters and to corrupt the law enforcement and judicial systems, and limited judicial independence.
“During the December 6 constitutional referendum, local and international observers, members of civil society, and journalists reported witnessing numerous types of electoral violations, including use of administrative resources, multiple voting, ballot-box stuffing, and the intimidation of commission members and observers by officials,” the reports says.
As of December 18, the Republic of Armenia Investigative Committee (RAIC) had initiated 34 criminal cases stemming from the referendum.
Other reported problems and abuses included suspicious deaths in the military under noncombat conditions and continued bullying and mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers without accountability.
Police employed torture and mistreatment to obtain confessions and reportedly beat and abused citizens during arrest and interrogation.
Some prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates.
Authorities continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily and without reasonable suspicion. Trials were often lengthy, and courts failed to enforce laws providing for fair trials.
Authorities did not adequately enforce laws prohibiting government intrusion of privacy and unlawful searches.
The media lacked diversity of political opinion, and most outlets reflected government views. Self-censorship was a problem.
There were credible reports that police targeted journalists at citizens’ protests. Authorities’ respect for freedom of assembly was uneven.
The roles of senior officials in the governance of prominent academic institutions and the politicization of student activities inhibited academic freedom.
Authorities restricted freedom to participate in the political process and political pluralism.
Government restrictions affected some minority religious groups, and members of religious minorities suffered from societal discrimination. Domestic violence remained a problem.
A significant imbalance in the birth ratio of boys to girls pointed to gender-biased sex selection.
Human trafficking was a problem. Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all areas of life.
Officials, including police and military and prison authorities, subjected lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons to abuse and discrimination with impunity; they also experienced societal violence and discrimination. Society stigmatized persons with HIV/AIDS.
The government limited workers’ rights and weakly enforced labor laws.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the security forces and elsewhere for human rights abuses, officials often continued to commit abuses with impunity.
Authorities did not hold anyone accountable for the 10 deaths that occurred following postelection clashes in 2008. ---0---
In its report, the U.S. Department of the State pointed out numerous aspects of human rights violation in Armenia.
As the most significant human rights problems during the year, the report points out officials’ use of government resources to maintain the dominance of the ruling RPA, use of economic and political power by the country’s elite to enrich supporters and to corrupt the law enforcement and judicial systems, and limited judicial independence.
“During the December 6 constitutional referendum, local and international observers, members of civil society, and journalists reported witnessing numerous types of electoral violations, including use of administrative resources, multiple voting, ballot-box stuffing, and the intimidation of commission members and observers by officials,” the reports says.
As of December 18, the Republic of Armenia Investigative Committee (RAIC) had initiated 34 criminal cases stemming from the referendum.
Other reported problems and abuses included suspicious deaths in the military under noncombat conditions and continued bullying and mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers without accountability.
Police employed torture and mistreatment to obtain confessions and reportedly beat and abused citizens during arrest and interrogation.
Some prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates.
Authorities continued to arrest and detain persons arbitrarily and without reasonable suspicion. Trials were often lengthy, and courts failed to enforce laws providing for fair trials.
Authorities did not adequately enforce laws prohibiting government intrusion of privacy and unlawful searches.
The media lacked diversity of political opinion, and most outlets reflected government views. Self-censorship was a problem.
There were credible reports that police targeted journalists at citizens’ protests. Authorities’ respect for freedom of assembly was uneven.
The roles of senior officials in the governance of prominent academic institutions and the politicization of student activities inhibited academic freedom.
Authorities restricted freedom to participate in the political process and political pluralism.
Government restrictions affected some minority religious groups, and members of religious minorities suffered from societal discrimination. Domestic violence remained a problem.
A significant imbalance in the birth ratio of boys to girls pointed to gender-biased sex selection.
Human trafficking was a problem. Persons with disabilities experienced discrimination in almost all areas of life.
Officials, including police and military and prison authorities, subjected lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons to abuse and discrimination with impunity; they also experienced societal violence and discrimination. Society stigmatized persons with HIV/AIDS.
The government limited workers’ rights and weakly enforced labor laws.
Although the government took some steps to punish officials in the security forces and elsewhere for human rights abuses, officials often continued to commit abuses with impunity.
Authorities did not hold anyone accountable for the 10 deaths that occurred following postelection clashes in 2008. ---0---