New law to restrict authorities' rights to prevent rallies and assemblies in Armenia

A discussion on the Republic of Armenia "Law on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations" was organized today in Yerevan attended by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan, Venice Commission representatives and other international experts.

Other invited human rights defenders - Arthur Sakunts, Avetik Ishkhanyan and Artak Zeynalyan - didn't attend the meeting.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Assistant to the Armenia's President on Legal Issues Gevorg Kostanyan said the new law will dismiss the possibility of violations during mass events, reducing chances of lodging claims with the European Court of Human Rights.

Mr Kostanyan also agreed that the human rights situation in Armenia really gives ground for complaints.

Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan noted in turn that his extraordinary report contained criticism on the issue, particularly in terms of the practical application of legal measures.

"The more we enhance the draft, the less the possibility of problems with regard to its practical application," he said, adding that achieving such goal will not be very easy in Armenia.

"The existing laws rule out the possibility of rallies in case of even the slightest violation. The new law will not focus on that. We have envisaged mechanisms for discontinuing rallies only in extreme situations, if there are no other measures to protect fundamental rights. Under this new draft, organizers can conduct the rally without even getting the authorized body's response," Mr Harutyunyan said, detailing the clauses of the new law.

According to him, the authorized body will no longer have competences to push rally organizers to a dead end.

Besides, he said, the new amendments envisage the possibility of public hearings should the draft law be rejected.
This was the first legal initiative proposed by Armenia's Ombudsman.

Earlier, the Venice Commission proposed Mr Harutyunyan to conduct monitoring of the law on Meetings, Assemblies and Rallies. Based on the materials collected, the Ombudsman's office undertook the elaboration of the draft.

The Armenian National Congress (HAK) was not invited to the discussion.