Armenian authorities failed to comply with CoE resolution - oppositionist

The authorities have failed to comply with the requirements stipulated for in the Council of Europe's resolution on Armenia, according to Arman Grigoryan, representative of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) in the Council of Europe.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, he said Armenia's failure to fulfill its commitments under the document have been mentioned not only by the ANC but also the council. Grigoryan said his party has especially focused on such clauses of the resolution as freedom of speech, freedom of rallies and the March 1 post-electoral developments.

"None of these clauses or requirements have been met," he said, adding that any steps undertaken by the authorities have been imposed by foreign powers.

The opposition activist finds the authorities have complied only with some of the council's requirements, which cannot be deemed satisfactory.

"Unless the circumstances of the March 1 incidents are disclosed, the political environment will be unclean," Grigoryan added.

He also said political pressures on Armenia are expected to intensify. In that context he spoke of Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammerberg's January 18 visit to Armenia and the co-rapporteurs' subsequent fact-finiding mission.

"There are a lot of positive and optimistic expectations. I hope the minimum requirements will be met next year, and we'll finally get rid of the problem of having political prisoners," he added.