Human Rights Watch is writing to express its concern regarding the negative impact on media pluralism and public access to diversity of information and opinion in Armenia, recent amendments to the “Law on Television and Radio,” are likely to have.

Human Rights Watch is writing to express its profound concern about the death of 24-year old Vahan Khalafian, who sustained a fatal injury while in the custody of the Charentsavan police station on April 13, and to urge you to conduct a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into circumstances of his death in accordance with Armenia’s international obligations.

This submission highlights several key areas of concern regarding Armenia’s compliance with its international human rights obligations, including election-related and post-election violence; lack of accountability for excessive use of force by law enforcement officials; violations of the right to freedom of assembly and expression; torture and inhuman and degrading treatment in custody; official harassment and attacks on human rights defenders; and the right to access to controlled medicines.

There will be elections on Sunday in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. The poll will be the first test of Armenian democracy since the February 2008 presidential election, which was marred by irregularities and culminated in a violent confrontation between the authorities and the opposition.

Armenia has yet to hold the police accountable for their excessive use of force a year after a day of clashes with protesters that led to at least 10 deaths, Human Rights Watch said in a comprehensive report today.

Dear Prime Minister Sargsyan and Minister Danielyan,
We are writing to encourage you to ensure the release of the well-known journalist and editor, Arman Babajanian, from prison based on his pending request for parole.

Dear Secretary Kramer,

We believe that your forthcoming trips to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia provide important opportunities for raising key human rights concerns with the respective governments. Below we outline our main concerns in each country as well as recommendations for bringing the countries in line with their international commitments.

As part of their investigation into yesterday’s assault of a leading human rights defender, the Armenian authorities should investigate the extent to which the victim’s human rights work was a motive for the attack, Human Rights Watch said today. Mikael Danielian, the Chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association, was wounded by an air gun on May 21, 2008 in Yerevan, the country’s capital. Danielian was not seriously wounded.