In its annual report, Amnesty International specifies that in Armenia repression against journalists continues, as well as persecution of those who carry out alternative military service. Conscientious objectors continue to be imprisoned. There were reports of intimidation of independent journalists. The Ombudsperson was removed from her post in January by a presidential decree that she alleged was unconstitutional. Armenia did not release conscientious objectors from military service, in defiance of its obligations and commitments undertaken when acceding to the Council of Europe to respect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and despite the introduction of an alternative civilian service to military service in national legislation in July 2004. As of November, there were reportedly 48 Jehovah’s Witnesses and one Molokan (a member of a Russian religious minority) in detention for draft evasion. Forty-four of the Jehovah’s Witnesses had been tried and sentenced to terms ranging from 18 to 48 months’ imprisonment. The remaining four were charged and are awaiting trial. On September 6, Hovannes Galajyan of the Iravunk newspaper was beaten by two unidentified men outside his home. The attack followed the publication of a number of articles criticizing prominent officials. In July, the network of independent journalists of Hetq Online received threats of reprisals, including death threats, if its journalists continued to publish articles concerning the illegal acquisition of land for redevelopment. Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan was removed from her post in January by presidential decree and her duties entrusted to an interim three-member commission.
