The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg, today released his special report on its three-day visit to Armenia, calling on national authorities to lift the State of Emergency and carry out a credible inquiry to clarify the violent events which occurred during the confrontations in Yerevan on 1 March.
"In the existing situation, there is a need to clarify what actually happened and what provoked the outbreak of violence" he said. "It is important to establish a comprehensive inquiry which is independent, impartial, transparent and perceived as credible by the whole population." Mr Hammarberg suggests that if the Armenian Government decides to seek a substantial contribution from the international community to conduct the investigation, it should make "a precise and targeted request for such assistance".
Commissioner Hammarberg calls on the Armenian authorities to lift the State of Emergency and recommends that proposed changes of the law relating to freedom of expression and assembly only be adopted when in conformity with the European Convention on Human Rights.
He also urges that all detainees who have not committed concrete acts of criminal violence be released and that cases of excessive force by the police during 1 March be investigated and those responsible held to account.
The purpose of the visit was to monitor the overall human rights situation and the impact of the State of Emergency. From 12 to 15 March 2008, Mr Hammarberg held discussions with the President, the Prime Minister and President-elect, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Prosecutor General and the Head of Police. He met also the President of the National Assembly, representatives of the political parties including those in opposition and had a separate meeting with former President and presidential candidate, Levan Ter-Petrosian.
Commissioner Hammarberg also visited places of detention and interviewed recently arrested people. Furthermore, he visited hospitals and met policemen and civilians who had been injured during the violence. He also met with the National Human Rights Defender, defence lawyers, representatives of the media, non-governmental organisations as well as foreign diplomats and representatives of the international and regional organisations in Yerevan.