Udlændinge-, Integrations- og Boligudvalget 2015-16 UUI Alm.del - Bilag 244 Offentligt 3/2016 Armenia State Actors, Political Situation, Vulnerable Groups and Citizenship Report from a Fact Finding Mission to Yerevan, Armenia 3 April to 15 April 2016 Copenhagen, September 2016 Danish Immigration Service Ryesgade 53 2100 Copenhagen Ø Phone: 00 45 35 36 66 00 Web: www.newtodenmark.dk E-mail: [email protected] Armenia: State actors, political situation vulnerable groups and citizenship Content Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Disclaimer .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 9 1. STATE ACTORS.................................................................................................................................. 10 1.1. The National Police of Armenia ............................................................................................................ 10 ... Citizes Aess to the Polie ......................................................................................................... 10 1.1.2. Capacity and conduct of the police ............................................................................................... 11 1.1.3. Corruption and Integrity ................................................................................................................ 13 1.2. Special Investigation Service ................................................................................................................ 14 ... Citizes Aess .............................................................................................................................. 14 1.2.2. Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 14 1.2.3. Independence and Integrity .......................................................................................................... 15 1.3. The Legal System .................................................................................................................................. 15 ... Citizes Aess to file a ase ......................................................................................................... 16 1.3.2. Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 17 1.3.3. Integrity and Independence .......................................................................................................... 18 1.4. Independent Complaint/Appeal Bodies .......................................................................................... 20 1.4.1. Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) ............................................................................................ 20 .... Citizes Aess ........................................................................................................................... 20 1.4.1.2. Resources.................................................................................................................................... 21 1.4.1.3. Independence and Impact .......................................................................................................... 22 1.4.2. The Constitutional Court ................................................................................................................... 23 .... Citizes aess ........................................................................................................................... 23 1.4.2.2. Resources.................................................................................................................................... 24 1.4.2.3. Integrity and Impact ................................................................................................................... 24 2. Political Situation ............................................................................................................................. 26 2.1 Major political parties............................................................................................................................ 26 2 Armenia: State actors, political situation vulnerable groups and citizenship 2.1.1. Opposition ......................................................................................................................................... 26 2.1.2. Activists .............................................................................................................................................. 28 2.1.3. Under which conditions does the opposition work?......................................................................... 29 2.2 Freedom of Assembly ............................................................................................................................ 31 2.3 Freedom of Speech ................................................................................................................................ 33 2.3.1 Independent media ........................................................................................................................ 33 2.3.2 Situation for journalists .................................................................................................................. 36 3. Vulnerable groups in Armenia .......................................................................................................... 39 3.1 LGBT ................................................................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Victims of Domestic Violence ............................................................................................................ 42 3.3 Religious minority groups .................................................................................................................. 43 4. CITIZENSHIP ..................................................................................................................................... 45 4.1. Application in/outside Armenia........................................................................................................ 45 4.2. Requirements to documentation ..................................................................................................... 46 4.3. Possible test of language and constitutional skills ........................................................................... 46 4.4. Mixed marriage and children of mixed marriages ........................................................................... 46 4.5. Children of mixed marriages ............................................................................................................ 47 .. Ethi Aeias oppotuities to otai itizeship ithout haig lied i Aeia / haig lived outside Armenia for a longer period of time .................................................................................. 49 4.6.1. Ethnic Armenians from Syria ......................................................................................................... 50 4.7. Loss of citizenship ............................................................................................................................. 51 Appendix 1: Terms of Reference ........................................................................................................... 53 Appendix 2: List of Sources ................................................................................................................... 55 Appendix 3: Map of Armenia ................................................................................................................ 56 Appendix 4: Handbook of Frequently asked legal questions .................................................................. 57 Appendix 5: Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 107 Appendix 6: Meeting notes ................................................................................................................ 109 Meeting with the Constitutional Court, 6 April 2016 ........................................................................ 109 Meeting with the Court of Cassation, 4 April 2016 ........................................................................... 113 Meeting with the Human Rights Defender, Ombudsman, 11 April 2016 ......................................... 117 Meeting with Ministry of Diaspora, 14 April 2016 ............................................................................ 121 Meeting with the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police, 14 April 2016 ........................... 123 Meeting with the Poseuto Geeals Offie, 13 April 2016 .......................................................... 126 3 Armenia: State actors, political situation vulnerable groups and citizenship Meeting with Special Investigation Service, 4 April 2016 ................................................................. 129 Meeting with an anonymous source, located in Armenia, 7 April 2016 ..........................................