12 July 2008, 19:39
Hammarberg to assess the investigation of post-election events in Armenia
On July 13, Thomas Hammarberg, High Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, will come for his three-day working visit to Yerevan. He wants to assess the progress made in investigating the March 1-2 events in Yerevan.
In his visit Mr Hammarberg is accompanied by two employees of his office and Mr Johan Hirschenfeld, an international expert with extensive experience in making investigations, and plans to meet the leaders of Armenia and visit prisons.
"This visit is a part of our dialogue with the Armenian authorities, it's a follow-up of the previous visits last October and this March," said Mr Hammarberg.
"In my latest report on Armenia, I stood for comprehensive investigation into March 1 events. The aim of this visit is to evaluate the progress reached and to collect precise information on the number of arrested persons and the proceeding held," the CE's High Commissioner has added.
It is expected that during his visit Thomas Hammarberg visit will meet the leaders of Armenia, in particular, President Serzh Sarkisyan, members of the government, MPs, General Public Prosecutor Agvan Ovsepyan and members of the temporary parliamentary commission set up to investigate March 1-2 events in Yerevan, arrested persons and their advocates, Ombudsman and representatives of international organizations and civil society.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent
