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Armenia |
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Last reviewed: 24 April 2008 |
Country information
ARMENIA TODAY
Country facts
Area: 29,800 sq km
Population: 3,213,011 (2001 census), of which
urban: 2,066,153 (64.3%)
rural: 1,146,858 (35.7%)
Capital City: Yerevan (population: 1.2 million)
Ethnic Group: Armenian 98%, Yezidi 1.2%, Russian 0.5%, Greek and other 0.3% (2001 census)
A total of 3,145,354 Armenians, 40,620 Yezidis, 14,660 Rusians, 3,409 Assyrians, 1,633 Ukrainians, 1,519 Kurds, 1,176 Greeks, 4,640 other (2001 census).
Languages: Eastern Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)
Religion(s): Armenian Apostolic Church 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi 1.3%
Currency: Dram
Major political parties: Republican Party, Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaks), Heritage Party, United Labour Party, Prosperous Armenia, Country of Law Party, Peoples' Party, National Unity Party, Republic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, National Democratic Alliance Party, Democratic Party, Armenian Pan-National Movement, Communist Party of Armenia.
Government: Presidential Republic
Head of State: President Serge Sarkisian
Prime Minister/Premier: Tigran Sarkisian
Foreign Minister: Eduard Nalbandyan
Membership of international groupings/organisations: BSEC, CCC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECOSOC, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
ECONOMY
Main Macroeconomic Indicators
Sources – Armenian Ministry of Finance and Economy and the National Statistical Service of Armenia.
Nominal GDP (in mln USD): 6,386.7 (2006)
GDP deflator: 4.6 (2006)
GDP per capita: USD 1983.0 (2006)
GDP real growth: 13.3% (2006)
Net Exports/GDP: -14.4 (2006)
Investment/GDP: 33.6 (2006)
Consumption/GDP: 83.1 (2006)
Import of goods/GDP: 34.4 (2006)
Export of goods/GDP: 15.7 (2006)
Trade balance (Exports/Imports): -1,190.4 (2006)
External debt/GDP: 18.9 (2006)
Interest payments/GDP: 0.3 (2006)
Wages/GDP: 1.5 (2006)
Taxes and duties/GDP: 14.5 (2006)
Total Expenditure/GDP: 17.0 (2006)
Capital Expenditure/GDP: 3.3 (2006)
Deficit (-)/GDP: -1.5 (2006)
Foreign Direct Investments, (mln USD) net: 340.4 (2006)
Inflation (period average): 2.9% (2006)
Exchange rate (period average): (Dram/USD): 416.0 (2006)
Openness of Economy: 59.3% (2006)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (2006)
GDP by Sector – Jan-Oct 2007
Industry: 16.6%
Agriculture: 19.6%
Construction: 24.0%
Services (including trade, transport and communications): 31.1%
Other: 8.7%
Industries
Diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tyres, knitwear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewellery manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy.
Export Commodities
Diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy.
Import Commodities
Natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs.
Import Partners
Russia 21.8%, Ukraine 7.8%, Belgium 7.6%, Turkmenistan 7.1%, Italy 6.1%, Germany 5.7%, Iran 5.7%, Israel 4.8%, US 4.5%, Georgia 4.1% (2006).
Export Partners
Germany 18.1%, Netherlands 14.1%, Belgium 13.4%, Russia 13.1%, Israel 7.1%, US 6.1%, Georgia 5.1%, Iran 4.9% (2006).
At the fall of the Soviet Union Armenia experienced extensive economic collapse, with the economy already damaged as a consequence of the 1988 earthquake, and hard hit by the breakdown of inter-Soviet and former Warsaw pact trade and the consequences of the war over NK. An example of the severity of this is that average real wages for Armenians at end 1993 were at 6% of their level 2 years earlier. The economy recovered somewhat in subsequent years, and Armenia weathered the 1998 Russian financial crisis better than other CIS states.
Foreign debt in 2005 amounted to approximately US$1,099 (millions). This was US$1,026, US$1,098, and US$1,183 in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively. Armenia has a fairly good relationship with the IMF and World Bank.
The 2004 household survey shows a further decline in poverty and inequality, but the overall level of poverty remains high. The headline poverty rate fell from 56% in 1999 to 39% in 2004, with extreme poverty declining slightly in 2004, following a sharp drop in 2003. The reduction in poverty was driven by a decline in rural poverty, and, to a lesser extent, of poverty in non-Yerevan urban areas, owing mainly to higher growth of agricultural incomes, private transfers from abroad, and state social assistance.
HISTORY
Origins
According to traditional Armenian Christian legend, the Armenians are descended from Hayk, himself a descendant of Noah whose Ark grounded on nearby Mt Ararat. The Armenian name for Armenia, “Hayastan” (the “land of Hayk”) reflects this legend.
The Armenians first emerged with the Hayk tribes around 800 BC, becoming part of the Kingdom of Urartu or Van, which flourished in the Caucasus and eastern Asia Minor until 600 BC. After the destruction of the Seleucid Empire, the first Armenian state was founded in 190 BC. At its zenith, from 95 to 65 BC, the Armenian kingdom extended its rule over the entire Caucasus and the area that is now the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. The kingdom became part of the Roman Empire in 64 BC.
In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion, establishing the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Church, independent of other Christian churches, remains an important symbol of Armenian identity. After the fall of the Armenian kingdom in 428 AD, most of Armenia was incorporated within the Sassanid Empire. After the Sassanid period (428-636), Armenia emerged as an autonomous principality within the Arabic Empire. The principality lasted till 884, when it regained its independence from the weakened Arabic Empire. The Bagratid dynasty’s kingdom (later a grouping of kingdoms) lasted till 1045. In 1045, the Byzantine Empire conquered Bagratid Armenia, followed in 1071 by Seljuk Turks. From around 1100 to 1350 the offshoot Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, which had ties to European Crusader states, existed in south-east Asia Minor until its decline. In the early 1100s, Armenian princes established semi-independent Zakarid Armenia in Northern and Eastern Armenia. Then during the 1230s, the Mongol invasion conquered Armenia. The Mongols were followed by other Central Asian tribes, which continued from the 1200s until the 1400s. During the 1500s, the Ottoman Empire and Safavid Persia divided Armenia among themselves. The Russian Empire later forcibly incorporated Eastern Armenia in 1813 and 1828.
Modern Day Armenia
At the outbreak of the First World War the Ottoman and Russian Empires militarily engaged in the Persian and Caucasus Campaigns. In 1915-18 up to 1.5m Armenians (one third of the Armenian population) died of starvation or were systematically killed during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. As a consequence of these events, a large Armenian diaspora lives outside Armenia, mostly in the USA, in the Middle East and in France where their communities are particularly influential. There are 10-12,000 British Armenians.
An independent Armenian state existed from 1918-1920. In late 1920, the Bolsheviks came to power following a Red Army invasion of Armenia, and in 1922, Armenia was subsumed into the USSR.
During the Soviet period Armenia rebuilt, creating the new capital Yerevan, though suffering in common with other peoples of the USSR under Stalin’s repression. In the late Soviet period Armenia was a centre of technological and light industry. In 1988 an earthquake hit northern Armenia, killing over 30,000 and causing widespread devastation. Under Soviet leader Gorbachev’s “glasnost” reforms new leaders emerged, coalescing around the disputed issue of Nagorno-Karabagh (NK – see below).
A national referendum to secede from the USSR took place in September 1991 when the disintegration of the Soviet Union was gathering pace. More than 99% of voters supported independence, reflecting national aspirations, as well as massive popular opposition both to the coup attempt in Moscow and to the perceived Soviet bias towards the Azerbaijani position in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
Independence
In October 1991 Levon Ter-Petrosian, a respected academic, was elected Armenia's first President (he had previously been Chairman of the Supreme Soviet) with 83% of the vote. He faced intense opposition pressure, due to the situation in NK and economic hardships, and there were public demonstrations against him in 1992, and particularly in 1994. However, the successes of the Armenian forces in and around NK during 1993 and the improvements in the supplies of energy relieved the pressure. A landslide victory for the pro-government Respublika Bloc in the 1995 parliamentary elections made it easier for Ter-Petrossian to press ahead with economic reform.
Presidential elections were held again in 1996. Ter-Petrossian quickly claimed a first round victory but the opposition alleged widespread fraud and organised a series of demonstrations. These were at first peaceful but on 25 September the Parliament building was stormed. Parliamentary immunity was withdrawn from opposition MPs and several were beaten and arrested. Police and armed troops were put on the streets. To restore Armenia's international reputation, promote national reconciliation and speed up economic reform, Ter-Petrossian appointed as Prime Minister the respected Armenian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Armen Sarkissian. Dr Sarkissian unfortunately had to resign for health reasons in early March 1997, and Robert Kocharian, leader of the NK Armenians, was appointed in his place. Ter-Petrossian resigned in February 1998 after internal disagreements over policy towards the resolution of the NK conflict. Elections were held in March 1998 and Robert Kocharian won by a margin of nearly 20% over his nearest rival.
Parliamentary elections were held on 30 May 1999. The newly formed Unity Alliance (an alliance between the Republican Party of Defence Minister Vazgen Sarkissian and the People's Party led by former Communist leader Karen Demirchian) won 41.69% of the vote and gained the largest number of parliamentary seats (29), although short of an overall majority. The preliminary assessment of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission was that the elections 'demonstrated an improvement over prior elections' and were 'a relevant step towards compliance with OSCE commitments'. Following the elections, Vazgen Sarkissian was appointed Prime Minister and Karen Demirchian elected as Chairman of Parliament.
On 27 October 1999 5 gunmen broke into the National Assembly building and killed Vazgen Sarkissian and Karen Demirchian plus 6 other MPs. The gunmen were led by an extreme nationalist. The authorities condemned the murders as an attack by a group of disaffected loners. Although there are many conspiracy theories, there has been no evidence to contradict the official view.
After the attack, President Kocharian appointed Aram Sarkissian, brother of the murdered PM, as Prime Minister, despite his lack of political experience. Following this, Kocharian had an uneasy relationship with the National Assembly and faced down calls for his impeachment. In May 2000 Kocharian appointed a new Prime Minister and Cabinet having removed all his critics from office.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Relations with Neighbours
Armenia's closest political and economic relationship is with Russia. Armenia joined the CIS on 21 December 1989 and has signed a Friendship Treaty with Russia. There is a Russian division currently stationed in Armenia, as well as Russian border guards on the Iranian and Turkish borders. A treaty was signed by Presidents Yeltsin and Ter-Petrosian in 1995 establishing the legal status of the base and agreements on military co-operation have been signed since. Armenia is 1 of 6 parties to the CIS Treaty of Collective Security signed in Tashkent in May 1993.
Armenian relations with Turkey have a troubled history and continue to be sensitive. Turkey recognised Armenia along with Georgia and Azerbaijan in 1991. But diplomatic relations between the two countries have not been established and the Turkish/Armenian border has been closed since May 1992. Despite the troubled bilateral relationship, Turkey has provided a limited amount of humanitarian assistance to Armenia in the past. The Turks and Armenians also work together in the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organisation. In 1995 an air corridor between the 2 countries was opened.
Relations with Georgia are generally good, particularly in economic terms, with many Armenian imports coming through the Georgian border.
Relations with Azerbaijan are affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh issue (see below).
Relations with the International Community
Armenia seeks integration into European and international structures. It has also been able to look to the large Armenian Diaspora (particularly in the US and France) for support.
EU and International Organisations
A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Armenia was signed on 22 April 1996. The PCA governs political, economic and trade relations between the parties and lays a basis for social, financial, scientific, technological and cultural cooperation between them. The UK formally ratified the PCA on 22 April 1998 and entered into force on 1 July 1999.
In June 2004, Armenia was included in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The European Commission is intensifying relations with Armenia, through the implementation of the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan.
Armenia joined NATO’s 'Partnership for Peace' (PFP), launched at the NATO Summit on 10 January 1994 and hosted the Co-operative Best Effort PfP exercise in June 2002. Armenia joined the Council of Europe in January 2001 and the World Trade Organisation in January 2003.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Recent History
The present phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) conflict began in 1988 after the Regional Soviet of NK adopted a resolution on the transfer of NK to Armenia. The resolution was rejected by the USSR and Soviet troops deployed to NK to suppress nationalist sentiments. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union NK declared its independence. Azeri forces then attempted to re-establish control but met fierce resistance. In 1992 NK forces captured Shusha (a previously Azeri-populated town within NK) and established a corridor to Armenia through Lachin. And in 1993 NK forces, with help from Armenia, retook northern NK and occupied the entire south-west corner of Azerbaijan, some 20% of Azeri territory. This encroachment onto Azeri territory led to wide-scale international condemnation, including four UN Security Council Resolutions demanding that 'local Armenian forces' withdraw from the most recently occupied areas outside NK.
The 1994 spring offensive began in early April with each side accusing the other of renewed attacks and shelling of civilian targets. Fighting was intense along the entire front line, with both sides seeming better prepared militarily than in previous years. However, on 12 May 1994 a cease-fire was brokered in direct talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan and on 27 July 1994 the Armenian and Azerbaijani Defence Ministers and the Commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Army signed an agreement consolidating it. With the exception of minor violations the cease-fire has held. Armenia, Azerbaijan and the authorities in NK have all confirmed their readiness to continue it indefinitely until a political agreement is concluded. The number of deaths in the conflict probably exceeded 15,000 with at least 900,000 Azeris and 300,000 Armenians displaced. As of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from Armenia.
The Issues
The issues in dispute include the future political status of NK and the nature of any international guarantees of that status. Armenia points to a 1991 referendum (ruled illegal by the Azerbaijani Government) in which the people of NK voted for independence. The Armenian Parliament refuses to accept any solution to the conflict, which refers to NK as part of Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan has annulled NK's former autonomous status.
International Efforts
In 1992 the (then) CSCE established an international peace process, known as the Minsk Group, with the aim of undertaking negotiations with the parties to the conflict, to reach a peaceful political settlement. At its December 1994 Summit in Budapest the OSCE agreed to integrate the mediation efforts of the Russian Federation and the Minsk Group making Russia a co-chair of the Minsk Group (initially with Sweden, then with Finland, and now in a Troika with the US and France). The summit also agreed in principle to the deployment of a multi-national peacekeeping operation, following the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict, and establishing a High Level Planning Group (HLPG) to work on details of an operation. There is as yet no sign of a political agreement being reached. The Minsk Group now comprises Russia, USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Turkey, Belarus, Austria, Norway and Finland. The UK is not a member.
Since the 1994 ceasefire, the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan have met regularly to discus the NK dispute. Negotiations continue.
As a result of the conflict, the OSCE imposed an arms embargo on both Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992. The UK observes this embargo.
UK Position
The UK (and our European partners) have argued that any solution should be based on the sovereignty of Azerbaijan with real autonomy for the people of NK. The international community does not recognise NK independence. Our policy on the NK dispute is that we will support any mechanism for its resolution, which both parties can accept, and which has a realistic chance of delivering a lasting political settlement. Although the UK is not a member of the Minsk Group, it strongly supports the Group's work.
Relations with the UK
The UK recognised Armenia on 31 December 1991 and diplomatic relations were established soon afterwards. There is an Armenian Embassy in London. The first resident British Ambassador, David Miller OBE, arrived in Yerevan in July 1995 (the Ambassador in Moscow had previously been cross-accredited).
Cultural Relations with the UK
A Cultural Agreement between the UK and Armenia was signed in London on 9 February 1994. The British Council opened in June 2001 in Yerevan. The British Council in Armenia aim to create an enduring partnership between the UK and Armenia in the areas of arts, English language, education, information, governance and science. It also helps administer the Chevening and John Smith Fellowship scholarships. The Council enjoys a successful and high profile in Armenia and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.
Recent Visits
Outward
Minister of State, Douglas Hogg, visited Armenia twice in 1992/93. The Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, visited Armenia in January 1996. Viscount Goschen, Minister for Transport, visited Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in September/October 1996. Minister Keith Vaz attended the State Funerals of those murdered in the Parliament shooting in October 1999. The FCO PUS, Sir John Kerr, visited Armenia in October 2000. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester visited Armenia in November 2001 as part of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity celebrations. In November 2005, the Minister for Environment, Elliot Morley, visited Yerevan for the conference of EECCA Ministers of Finance/Economy, Water and Environment on Financing Water Supply and Sanitation in EECCA. Geoff Hoon MP, FCO Minister for Europe, visited Georgia and Armenia in October 2006. In the same month, Baroness Scotland, Minister for Criminal Justice at the Home Office, visited Yerevan for the CoE Justice Ministers conference. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, visited in September 2007 and co-hosted the Queen’s Birthday Party at the Armenian Holy See of Etchmiadzin.
Inward
The Armenian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister visited the UK in May 1993. President Ter-Petrossian visited London as a Guest of Government from 8-11 February 1994, returning for VE Day commemorations in May 1995. Presidential Adviser Libaridian visited the UK in October 1995 and March 1996. Dr Ararktsian, Chairman of the National Assembly, visited the UK in November 1996. The Governor of Shirak Province, Gomtsian, visited the UK in March 1997. A visit to the UK by Foreign Minister Oskanian took place from 15-18 March 1999. During the visit Oskanian had calls on the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary, as well as Dr Kim Howells, a PUSS at the DTI. Mr Armen Martirosian, Deputy Foreign Minister visited from 13-17 March 2002. His programme included a meeting with Mr Ben Bradshaw MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and a talk at the London School of Economics. Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Baibourtian were on sponsored visits in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The former Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdian attended a course organized by the Public Administration International. Opposition MP Tatul Manaserian and leader of the Heritage party Raffi Hovhannisian have attended Wilton Park conferences.
GEOGRAPHY
Armenia is a mountainous, high-altitude landlocked country. It is the smallest of the three South Caucasus states in size and population and borders Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran.
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey, South Caucasus, Lesser Caucasus Mountains
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
Land boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Turkey 268, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km.
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: highland continental, dry high-altitude, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Highland plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 41% (2005 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,860 sq km (2003 est.)
Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes (the latest in December 1988 killed 30,000 people); droughts
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Trade and Investment with the UK
An Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) was signed on 22 May 1993 during a visit to the UK by Armenian Prime Minister Bagratian. An Air Services Agreement was signed during Ter-Petrossian's visit to the UK in February 1994. The British Embassy spearheaded the formation of an EU Chamber of Commerce to promote trade between Armenia and Europe.
UK Development Assistance
DFID has been working in Armenia since the mid 1990s. The UK’s bilateral assistance has been focused on supporting the Government of Armenia to improve governance and its institutional environment for poverty reduction, to promote pro-poor sustainable growth, and help to strengthen the UK’s contribution to help with conflict resolution and peace building in the region.
In early 2006 Armenia achieved lower middle income status (LMIC), leading DFID towards phasing out its bilateral programme by the end of 2008. DFID’s financial support to the country during 2007/08 fiscal year is £3.4 million. We work closely with the Government of Armenia and also with civil society within the framework of the poverty reduction strategy (see below) contributing to the achievement of the MDGs.
DFID and other donors have assisted the Government of Armenia (GoA) in developing a medium-term Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), the second revision of which will be adopted by early-2008. The Strategy focuses on consultations with the local community in setting realistic targets to enable further development and economic growth.
As the DFID bilateral programme to Armenia will close at the end of 2008, DFID is now promoting the roll-out of its piloted activities in order to try to ensure sustainability. Anchoring the DFID experience and achievements into the reviewed PRSP will enable the Armenian Government to pursue its development agenda through other funding, particularly the EC European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), which has earmarked €24.6m per annum for Armenia for the period of 2007-10.
POLITICS
Recent Political Developments and Elections
Presidential elections in February 2003 were won by Robert Kocharian, with 67.48% of the vote, in a second round.
These were followed by National Assembly elections in May 2003. As with the Presidential elections, the OSCE criticised the conduct of the elections, and several re-runs of constituency elections were held in June. The Republican Party, endorsed by the powerful Defence Minister Serge Sarkisian, won the majority of votes, and formed a government coalition with the Country of Law Party and the Dashnaks. The Justice Alliance and National Unity became the opposition in the parliament. An opposition boycott of Armenia's parliament turned the National Assembly into a dull and apolitical body. The boycott started in February 2004 when the parliament's pro-government majority refused to consider opposition demands for a 'referendum of confidence' in President Robert Kocharian.
The Prime Minster, Andranik Margaryan, died of a heart attack on 25 March 2007, at the age of 55, having been in poor health for a number of years. Margaryan was also the chairman of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. Defence Minister Serge Sarkisian assumed Margaryan’s party responsibilities, and on 4 April was appointed Prime Minister. Mikayel Harutyunyan was appointed to the post of Defence Minister on 23 April 2007. Parliamentary elections were held on 12 May 2007. In their preliminary findings, the International Election Observation Mission, comprising OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, concluded that the elections were conducted largely in accordance with international standards, but that there was room for improvement before Presidential elections in 2008.
The Presidential elections were held in calm atmosphere on 19 February 2008, and described by the International Election Observation Mission in its preliminary statement as 'mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards' but with significant areas for improvement. The Central Election Commission released the final results on 24 February, with Serge Sarkisian the victor, and former President Ter-Petrossian in second place. Ter-Petrossian led demonstrations in Yerevan which lasted from 20 February until the authorities cleared protestors from Freedom Square on the morning of 1 March. The protestors regrouped in other parts of the city, and violent clashes between police and demonstrators continued into the night, resulting in at least eight deaths. The government declared a 20-day State of Emergency on 1 March, imposing restrictions on public gatherings, political activity, the media, and giving law enforcement personnel additional powers, including stop and search. The State of Emergency was lifted on 21 March.
Serge Sarkisian was inaugurated as President on 9 April 2008.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Torture/ill-treatment
Reports of torture and ill-treatment in custody continue, together with complaints about brutal treatment, known as 'hazing', of army conscripts. As in previous years, there are persistent allegations that law enforcement officials subject people to torture and ill-treatment in order to obtain confessions and coerce testimony, and that in some cases the authorities appear reluctant to conduct prompt and comprehensive investigations, or to initiate proceedings against those alleged to be responsible.
Prisoners of conscience
Armenia has a law allowing an alternative to military service under the supervision of military personnel. But those refusing this alternative continue to face prison sentences for refusing military service.
The death penalty
In July 2003 the President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, commuted all outstanding death sentences and in September Armenia abolished capital punishment in peacetime by ratifying Protocol No 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights.