Armenian Ombudsman to take part in fact-finding group on March 1 events

Armen Arutyunyan, Ombudsman in Armenia, gave his consent to take part in the work of the newly created group, the mission of which will be to collect on the events of March 1 in Yerevan. The Ombudsman has motivated this decision by saying that the work of the group will have more positive than negative aspects. He has also stated that in the near future he will send his representative into the group irrespective of the decision of the opposition.

According to his story, one cannot expect an ideal format for such group in view of today's political intolerance that reigns in Armenia. As to non-acceptance by oppositionists of the secret operation regime of the group, Mr Arutyunyan has stated that the final report and conclusions made by the group will be open.

The decree on setting up a fact-finding group on March 1 events in Yerevan was signed by President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisyan on October 23. The procedure was also approved of form the group of five persons.

The group will consist of two representatives of the authorities, one representative from the opposition party "Heritage", Ombudsman in Armenia, and Armenian National Congress, headed by the leader of the opposition Levon Ter-Petrosyan, each. The approved procedure assumes that the group members cannot represent political forces, be deputies, and take state posts or work in local government institutions. All the members of group, except for the Ombudsman's representative, shall be lawyers. The group will work in the closed regime.

The Decree states that the group's mission is to help the temporary parliamentary commission, created 7 months ago, in investigating the events of March 1. The group also has the powers to request information from officials, state entities and individuals, and to retrieve necessary documents, including demands to hold examinations, and to get acquainted with criminal case files. The group has the right to employ international experts.