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Europe
Armenia |
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Last reviewed: 24 April 2008 |
Country information
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.