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ARMENIA: Between Hope and Distrust the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Established in 1977

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ARMENIA: Between Hope and Distrust the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Established in 1977 21•20142010 REPORT Between hope and distrust and hope Between ARMENIA: The Norwegian Helsinki Committee Established in 1977 The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is a non-governmental organisation that works to promote respect for human rights, nationally and internationally. Its work is based on the conviction that documentation and active promotion of human rights by civil society is needed for states to secure human rights, at home and in other countries. NHC bases its work on international human rights instruments adopted by the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), including the 1975 Helsinki Final Act. The main areas of focus for the NHC are the countries of Europe, North America and Central Asia. The NHC works irrespective of ideology or political system in these countries and maintains political neutrality. How we work Human rights monitoring and reporting Through monitoring and reporting on problematic human rights situations in specific countries, the NHC sheds light on violations of human rights. The NHC places particular emphasis on civil and political rights, including the fundamental freedoms of expression, belief, association and assembly. On-site research and close co-operation with key civil society actors are our main working methods. The NHC has expertise in election observation and has sent numerous observer missions to elections over the last two decades. Support for democratic processes By sharing knowledge and with financial assistance, the NHC supports local initiatives for the promotion of an independent civil society and public institutions as well as a free media. A civil society that functions well is a precondition for the development of democracy. Education and information Through education and information about democracy and human rights, international law and multicultural understanding, we work to increase the focus on human rights violations. Our aim is to influence both public opinion and governments in human rights matters. International processes As with our educational work, the NHC seeks to influence governments and international organisations through participation in international processes, meetings and conferences to make human rights a priority. Front page: Grandmother with flag. All photos: Lene Wetteland, Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Map from http://mapsof.net/map/caucasus-breakaway-regions-abkhazia-south-ossetia-nagorno-karabakh#.UuKQuJzKyig Contents 1. Preface ................................................................................................................ 3 2. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 4 3. Historical and Political Background ................................................................. 6 4. Democratisation at Stake ..................................................................................11 4.1 Elections ............................................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Corruption, Transparency and Accountability ........................................................ 18 4.3 Minorities and Gender ..................................................................................................... 23 4.4 Civil Society ......................................................................................................................... 29 5. Recommendations and Conclusion ................................................................ 38 6. Resources .......................................................................................................... 41 2 (REPORT 1•2014) 1. Preface The Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) is a non-governmental organisation working to ensure that human rights are fully respected both in law and in practice. The NHC does this through monitoring, reporting, advocacy, education and support for democracy. A strong civil society is of vital importance to the development of democracy and protection of human rights in a country. For this reason we support civil society organisations in young democracies through financial aid, organisational development and exchanges of experience. Our method is first-hand contact with key stakeholders in the region we work in. We travel regularly to all the countries we cover, and stay updated when major events occur suddenly, e.g. riots, or are scheduled to take place, e.g. elections. With regards to Armenia we have had democracy support programmes in the country since 2003, with regular visits to the country and close cooperation with local human rights organisations and activists. Since 2008 this close follow-up with the relevant actors and events in the country has increased in frequency and intensity, and we have been present at all the last elections since the disputed presidential elections in 2008. The main methodology for the current report is meetings and interviews in and outside Armenia since then. All rendering of viewpoints of named persons in the report is based on meetings carried out by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee over the past five years. The report was drafted by Lene Wetteland, Project Manager and Advisor on Armenia in the NHC, with valuable support from Lillian Solheim, Project Manager in the NHC. Valuable input was also provided by Gunnar Ekeløve-Slydal, Deputy Secretary General of the NHC, and Artur Sakunts, Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor, Armenia. Many thanks also to the Norwegian Helsinki Committee’s cooperation partners in Armenia over many years and the activists interviewed for the report. (ARMENIA: Between hope and distrust) 3 2. Introduction Elections are a major event in a democracy, but the NHC does not see the monitoring of technicalities on election day as the main indicator of how well or poorly a democracy is performing. Recognising the importance of a thriving civil society in a democracy to maintain checks and balances and improve the situation for marginalised groups, we focus on the conditions for domestic election observation (rather than international election observation) as part of the NHC’s multifaceted democracy support component. Competition, civic participation and respect for fundamental human rights are other essential elements that set the necessary preconditions for a democracy. In addition, trust and confidence in democratic institutions, in particular the government, are crucial. Situated in the mountains of Eurasia, under the influence of a range of surrounding power factors, Armenia’s decision-makers have been eager to maintain the geopolitical balance in the region. To the extent that the country’s representatives were negotiating a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, (DCFTA) with the European Union (EU); apparently it did that in parallel with negotiations with the Russian Federation over membership in the Russia-led Customs Union with Kazakhstan and Belarus. State representatives negotiate with other high-ranking representatives, abroad and behind closed doors. As there is no censorship, Armenians interested in the latest political developments can in theory find much of the information necessary to stay informed. There are chances to discuss it in a wide range of fora, including social media; to arrange pickets and demonstrations; and to create associations that promote prioritised issues. Six different parties and two independent MPs are represented in the National Assembly, including three fairly outspoken parties mostly in opposition to the government. Armenian youth are active users of social media, and many have studied abroad or have friends or relatives abroad. Armenia was, and still is, considered by many counterparts to be one of the best students in the class of ’91, i.e. the countries that became independent states after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Still, the government’s simultaneous negotiations with both the EU and Russia and the possibilities and consequences of cooperation with either of them have not been subject to broad discussion in Armenia. State TV channels do not present a realistic picture of the various opinions or consequences of the two alternatives. Economic hardship keeps people occupied with their daily bread, and people also have little confidence in government institutions and media. They do not see President Sargsyan as their representative, mainly because many consider the two last election results fraudulent. Although the parliament has representatives from various parties, these parties are personality-driven and lack a genuine electorate to whom they are responsible. There is also an inherent scepticism 4 (REPORT 1•2014) towards actors in civil society, who furthermore lack platforms to engage fully with the general population. Evelina Gyulyakhanyan from the NGO Socioscope summarises the challenges hence: When people realise their rights, they leave the country to obtain these rights rather than stay and fix it for all Armenians. When the September 2013 announcement was made that Sargsyan had signed an agreement with the Russian representative and that the EU DCFTA was off the table after three years of preparations, people were not pleased. But they did not take to the streets in numbers like Ukrainians did after Ukraine’s President Yanukovich agreed on a similar deal with Russia.1 However, the size and engagement of the demonstrations which have taken place in Armenia since then are unprecedented and substantial, especially
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