Human rights situation in the Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Investigative Service. Ombudsman’s speech 2012

The Armenian Ombudsman’s Office has issued a new report addressing the human rights situation in the Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Investigative Service.

Prosecutor’s Office

- Restrictions on and violations of human rights, and abuse of authority resulting from improper control;

- Unresolved or partially resolved non-combat deaths in the Armenian army (cases having a history of more than 10 years);

- Failure to meet the 10-day deadline for considering crime reports filed with inquest or investigative bodies;

- Failure to take sufficient measures towards considering the reports on the distribution of electoral bribes during the 2012 parliamentary election;

- A motion for detaining an individual has remained the Prosecutor’s Office’s main choice while deciding on a precautionary measure.

Special investigative service

- Failure to thoroughly study the reports concerning the brutal treatment of officials;

- Failure to take adequate measures to ensure an effective inquest into the deaths of the 10 people killed in the March 1, 2008 post-election turmoil;

- Repeated violations of legislative procedures, particularly the timeframes for the inquest of criminal cases;

- Cases taken under proceeding were often referred to other agencies.
The ombudsman has further highlighted the positive developments, particularly:

- The more frequent reference of cases to the Investigative Service has made proceedings more effective;

- The Prosecutor’s Office has elaborated amendments to different legal acts to bridge the existing gaps in the legislation

- The cases under the Investigative Service’s proceeding increased in number since 2011

- Both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Service have ensured transparency and publicity of work.