Yesterday the Center of the People’s Movement evaluated the PACE resolution 1620 regarding the implementation of the Resolution 1609 as both positive and negative. They released a statement, where in particular they specified…
The positive developments are the following:
. The PACE demanded last April the urgent release of all opposition members arrested on “seemingly artificial and politically motivated charges,” the scrapping of serious restrictions on freedom of assembly and the launch of an independent inquiry into the March 1 clashes between opposition protesters and security forces.
. It warned that failure to take these measures by late June could lead to the suspension of the voting rights of its four Armenian members. The resolution 1620 offers a new demand to the Armenian government which if met will be helpful to the popular struggle for restoration of democratic freedoms.
. Thanks to the resolution 1620 the Armenian government’s actions will remain under the PACE surveillance, under the constant possibility of imposing sanctions The CoE recommends the Armenian government not to constrain the rallies of the opposition, namely regarding the venue of the rallies.
. We particularly welcome the demand for an open, fair and transparent competition for A1+.
. We also welcome more distinct and overall demands for the release of political prisoners. We also welcome the instruction to the CoE human rights commissioner to report to the monitoring commission in September about progress in the investigating body on March 1 and release of political prisoners.
. We welcome that the CoE recommends the Armenian government not to constrain the rallies of the opposition, namely regarding the venue of the rallies.
Negative developments.
. The Council of Europe proved unable to force the Armenian government to implement the resolution 1609 in the period set for that. It is the consequence of the lack of resolve and principle of the Council of Europe. Geopolitical and interested calculations prevailed over the commitment to European values. For such developments the co-rapporteurs Prescott and Colombier are responsible. Every new day of political prisoners in prison remains on their conscience.
. The response of the PACE resolution 1620 regarding the restoration of freedom of assemblies also causes concern. “In particular, they welcomed that the police authorized the rally of June 20 at the last moment while the rally had been banned officially, and all over Armenia the police violated the right of people for free movement, impeded the rally illegally till the last moment.
. The loyal approach of the PACE to the creation of an ad hoc parliament committee to study March 1 also worries the opposition because the opposition is mostly governmental. Besides, the new resolution of the PACE did not mention the provision of the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR which holds that the breaches “devalued the overall election process. It means that this estimation should have deserved a harsh assessment on part of the PACE, which wasn’t done.