Armenia: New President Urged To Address Human Rights
Monday, April 14th, 2008
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging the new Armenian President, Serzh Sargsian, to investigate clashes between security forces and opposition demonstrators following February 19 elections in the country.
Opposition supporters claiming the elections were marred by fraud held ten days of peaceful protests in the capital city of Yerevan before forces moved in to disperse the crowds. Eight people died in the resulting violence, and hundreds were injured.
A state of emergency was declared, and a complete ban on public rallies was instituted. HRW alleges the government detained protesters, denied them lawyers and mistreated them while in police custody. Newspapers were censored, and the opposition media were kept from publishing. Amendments to the law on public assembly severly restricting public gatherings were made by the the National Assembly before it lifted the state of emergency, resulting in criticism from several European organizations.
Says HRW’s Holly Carter: “The new Armenian leader is facing serious challenges. He should take decisive steps to investigate the excessive use of police force and lift restrictions on freedom of assembly.”
President Sargsian was inaugerated April 9.