“168 Zham” carries an interview with Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian in which the latter, in fact, “reveals the government’s stance on the issue of releasing political detainees.”
The paper quotes the government member as saying that no amnesty can be applied to those detained for their political views because of an obstructing circumstance. And the creator of this obstruction, according to Danielian, is the opposition. “Amnesty can be applied to those who admit their guilt,” the minister explains. “As long as they do not plead guilty, no amnesty can be applied to them.”
“Zhamanak-Yerevan” reports that about two dozen claims related to the March 1 post-election violence have already been filed with the European Court of Human Rights.
“But getting those claims filed with the Strasbourg-based body is a rather difficult task because [President] Serzh Sarkisian’s regime directly obstructs the process of registration,” the daily asserts. “ The practice of withholding claims received from Armenia by Armenia’s representative to the European Court was exposed by two lawyers of former deputy prosecutor-general Gagik Jahangirian, who is a defendant in an ongoing March 1-related trial. An assessment had been giving to the official’s mishandling and the Court changed the order of receiving claims.”
On the subject of the March 1 events, “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” writes: “Is there a single piece of evidence that would prove that the opposition was indeed armed, used firearms against police, etc.? No tangible proof of this has been found yet. Instead, there is a multitude of material evidence establishing the fact that the criminal regime committed a crime against citizens.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports that Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, has postponed his visit to Armenia. Earlier, the paper writes, Hammarberg planned to pay a visit to Yerevan in the middle of November. “It became known yesterday, however, that the commissioner will postpone his trip till December,” according to the daily.
“Capital” interviewed Vartan Oskanian. In particular, Armenia’s former foreign minister commented on the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. “I think there is a long way to go. When I try to read between the lines of the document signed [by the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia] in Moscow and understand what each of the parties meant to say, it becomes clear to me that the positions of the sides are not getting any closer, but rather differences are becoming wider.”
“Of course, there are certain positive things in that document,” the former top diplomat continues. “Such as the reaffirmation of the Minsk Group format, a solution through peaceful means. But it clearly shows that the process is far from its conclusion. The Madrid document has never been questioned more. Azerbaijan continues to concentrate on documents seeking ways for a unilateral solution outside the framework of the Minsk Group and with their contents these documents contradict to the document currently on the table. There are still numerous differences, there are serious issues. I do not expect a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem any time soon.”
Meanwhile, “Aravot” talked to opposition Liberal Party leader Hovannes Hovannisian, who, it says, thinks that the resource for maneuvering and delaying a Karabakh settlement that existed during the presidency of Robert Kocharian has been exhausted now. “It does not mean, however, that by protracting the issue Kocharian was seeking to create more favorable conditions for a future pro-Armenian solution. The years of his presidency saw a large-scale emigration from Armenia and Karabakh, which became corrupt and devoid of political systems and democratic institutions. Kocharian’s legacy no longer leaves an opportunity for tactical maneuverings,” the opposition member concludes.
(Aghasi Yenokian)
The paper quotes the government member as saying that no amnesty can be applied to those detained for their political views because of an obstructing circumstance. And the creator of this obstruction, according to Danielian, is the opposition. “Amnesty can be applied to those who admit their guilt,” the minister explains. “As long as they do not plead guilty, no amnesty can be applied to them.”
“Zhamanak-Yerevan” reports that about two dozen claims related to the March 1 post-election violence have already been filed with the European Court of Human Rights.
“But getting those claims filed with the Strasbourg-based body is a rather difficult task because [President] Serzh Sarkisian’s regime directly obstructs the process of registration,” the daily asserts. “ The practice of withholding claims received from Armenia by Armenia’s representative to the European Court was exposed by two lawyers of former deputy prosecutor-general Gagik Jahangirian, who is a defendant in an ongoing March 1-related trial. An assessment had been giving to the official’s mishandling and the Court changed the order of receiving claims.”
On the subject of the March 1 events, “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” writes: “Is there a single piece of evidence that would prove that the opposition was indeed armed, used firearms against police, etc.? No tangible proof of this has been found yet. Instead, there is a multitude of material evidence establishing the fact that the criminal regime committed a crime against citizens.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” reports that Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, has postponed his visit to Armenia. Earlier, the paper writes, Hammarberg planned to pay a visit to Yerevan in the middle of November. “It became known yesterday, however, that the commissioner will postpone his trip till December,” according to the daily.
“Capital” interviewed Vartan Oskanian. In particular, Armenia’s former foreign minister commented on the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. “I think there is a long way to go. When I try to read between the lines of the document signed [by the presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia] in Moscow and understand what each of the parties meant to say, it becomes clear to me that the positions of the sides are not getting any closer, but rather differences are becoming wider.”
“Of course, there are certain positive things in that document,” the former top diplomat continues. “Such as the reaffirmation of the Minsk Group format, a solution through peaceful means. But it clearly shows that the process is far from its conclusion. The Madrid document has never been questioned more. Azerbaijan continues to concentrate on documents seeking ways for a unilateral solution outside the framework of the Minsk Group and with their contents these documents contradict to the document currently on the table. There are still numerous differences, there are serious issues. I do not expect a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem any time soon.”
Meanwhile, “Aravot” talked to opposition Liberal Party leader Hovannes Hovannisian, who, it says, thinks that the resource for maneuvering and delaying a Karabakh settlement that existed during the presidency of Robert Kocharian has been exhausted now. “It does not mean, however, that by protracting the issue Kocharian was seeking to create more favorable conditions for a future pro-Armenian solution. The years of his presidency saw a large-scale emigration from Armenia and Karabakh, which became corrupt and devoid of political systems and democratic institutions. Kocharian’s legacy no longer leaves an opportunity for tactical maneuverings,” the opposition member concludes.
(Aghasi Yenokian)