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Armenia: Freedom of political dissent; treatment of members of the Youth Organization of Students and their families (1990 - Aug 2002)

A trend toward a reduction in the freedoms of press, speech and association was represented in Country Reports between 1993 and 1996. While in 1993, Country Reports stated that freedoms of speech and press were "widely exercised," "public demonstrations, meetings and marches occurred frequently ... without any apparent interference by the authorities" (Feb. 1994, 782-783), by 1995, Country Reports stated that "the Government has, on occasion, shown intolerance of newspapers critical of government policies," it "suspended the Dashnak party by presidential decree" and, while "public demonstrations, meetings, and marches occurred frequently ... significant instances of government interference occurred in June" (Apr. 1996, 763-765). In 1996, Country Reports noted "some significant restrictions on freedom of the press" and "credible reports of harassment and intimidation of journalists", and reported "important exceptions" to the freedoms of assembly and association (Feb. 1997, 829-833).

According to the International Herald Tribune, 1997 "has been a year of diminishing press freedom and rising human-rights violations" (4 Jan. 1997). That said, Freedom House noted in its Nations in Transit 2002 that for the period 1997-2002, "no major violations of, or threats to freedom of expression were reported" and "direct threats and intimidation by government officials [were] not common" (26 June 2002, 68-69).

Information on the Youth Organization of Students could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. February 1997. "Armenia." United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. April 1996. "Armenia." United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. February 1994. "Armenia." United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

Freedom House. 26 June 2002. Nations in Transit 2002. "Armenia." <http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/nitransit/2002/armenia2002.pdf> [Accessed 19 Aug. 2002]

International Herald Tribune [London]. 4 January 1997. Michael Specter. "Peaceful Armenia Drifts Toward Dictatorship." (NEXIS).

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International (1992-1996)

Europa (1992-1996)

IRB Databases

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

Armenia Week

Armenian Organizations

Armenian Students Organization Web Sites

Eurasianet.org

Human Rights Watch

Net Arménie

Network of Armenian Youth NGOS

NGO Program in Armenia

Snark News Agency

Studiant: World Wide Student Organizations, Armenia

World News Connection

World of Volunteers, Armenia