On 11-12 May 2023, a high-level delegation of the Interagency Committee of the Republic of Armenia for oversight over the execution of the European Court of Human Rights judgments (ECtHR) visited Strasbourg to participate in the round table on Fostering execution of the ECtHR judgments at the institutional level and the launching of the Armenian user interface of HUDOC-ECHR.

The round table aimed at launching the national mechanism of interagency co-operation for coordination and oversight over the execution of the ECtHR judgements and facilitating discussions between the representatives of the Interagency Committee and the relevant Council of Europe services. The launch of the Armenian user interface of HUDOC-ECHR will further increase the understanding of the Court’s case-law among legal professionals and the general public in Armenia.

The high-level delegation of the Interagency Committee included  Mr Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Representative of the Republic of Armenia on International Legal Matters, Ms Lilit Tadevosyan, President of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Armenia, Ms Anna Vardapetyan, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, Mr Argishti Kyaramyan, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, Ms Anahit Manasyan, Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Mr Arman Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, Ms Armenuhi Harutyunyan, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, as well as representatives of the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters and Mr  Gevorg Martirosyan, Head of the  Human Rights and Integrity Center of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia.

The high-level delegation met Ms. Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Ms. Síofra O'Leary, President of the European Court of Human Rights, Ambassador Domenik Wanger, the Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein, Chair of the Human Rights meetings of the Ministers’ Deputies and Mr Christos Giakoumopoulos, Director General of the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe. The Ombudsperson Ms Manasyan met with Ms Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.  Meetings were also held with the representatives of the Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation and the Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

The visit was organised within the framework of the project “Support to the effective execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Armenia” implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for 2023-2026 and funded by the Human Rights Trust Fund, in cooperation with the Project “Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia” co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe within the framework of the Partnership for Good Governance (PGG III) and implemented by the Council of Europe and the Project “Fostering human rights in the armed forces in Armenia” funded under the Council of Europe Action Plan for 2023-2026.

Article 11 of the ECHR enshrines the right of everyone to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association.  No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as prescribed by law and necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety.

To implement this right, the Council of Europe provided expert support for preparing the new draft law on “Police Guard" and introducing relevant amendments in a number of associated legal acts. The new draft law was approved by the Government of Armenia on 2 May.

On 16-17 May, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs organised a round table discussion (RTD) on the new draft law with the members of the National Assembly, with the focus on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. Notably, in the leading case under enhanced supervision of the Committee of Ministers, Mushegh Saghatelyan v. Armenia, as well as other judgements from this group of cases, the European Court found disproportionate and unnecessary dispersal of the peaceful protests and related detention, prosecution and convictions of activists, as well as lack of effective domestic remedy for grievances under Article 11 of the ECHR. The judgements reveal deficiencies in safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly within the national legal framework. Acknowledging the pressing need for reforms, it is essential to harmonise national legislation and practices with European standards.

The discussion was important in the overall process of elaboration of the new draft law, providing a platform for constructive dialogue, issue resolution, and the exchange of perspectives and proposals, before the hearings at the National Assembly. The Council of Europe places immense value on the cooperation with the National Assembly, recognising its role in adopting legal acts and ensuring the sustainability of results.

The event was organised by the Project “Support to the effective execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Armenia”, funded by Human Rights Trust Fund and implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia for 2023-2026.