Human Rights defenders – Opponents

“Since 2002, when Armenia became a member of the Council of Europe, the more human rights protection structures we have had, (I mean the institute of an ombudsmen, now Standing Committee of Human Rights Protection), the worse the situation of human rights protection has become”- Arthur Sakunts, the coordinator of HCA Vanadzor, announced during the seminar “The Role of Human Rights Organizations in Human Rights Protection.”

Arthur Sakunts made this statement after the speech of Arevik Petrosyan, head of the NA Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs. During her speech she expressed her willingness to cooperate with human rights NGOs. “It is surprising for me that such a commission is formed in the National Assembly that was elected with awful election violations”-said Arthur Sakunts. He also stated that in one of the publications of an official newspaper founded by the National Assembly, all the organizations, which protected the rights of “Azatutyun” radio station, are called grant-eaters or traitors of national interests. It means that the state, on behalf of its means of mass media, which it funds, allows forming such an image about those non-governmental and human rights organizations that according to the Constitution and legislation realize their mission.” This was another proof of the reality that the authorities “create favourable conditions with all their mass media to present human rights activities as their opponents. This is typical of only authoritarian and totalitarian countries, where human rights protection is brought to the level of dissidence.”
  A.I.
“Aravot”