WATCH: Thomas Hammarberg expressed concern about the continuing imprisonment of Armenian opposition members.
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, has expressed concern about the continuing imprisonment of Armenian opposition members during a fact-finding visit to Yerevan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
Hammarberg held separate meetings with Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian, human rights campaigners, and media representatives on January 18, the first day of the three-day trip.
He was also scheduled to meet with President Serzh Sarkisian, other senior government officials, and leaders of the political parties represented in the Armenian parliament.
The discussions were expected to focus on the Armenian authorities' human rights record and, in particular, their compliance with resolutions adopted by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) following their 2008 postelection crackdown on the Ter-Petrossian-led opposition.
The PACE demanded the release of all oppositionists arrested on "seemingly artificial or politically motivated charges" and an objective inquiry into the deadly March 2008 clashes in Yerevan.
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, has expressed concern about the continuing imprisonment of Armenian opposition members during a fact-finding visit to Yerevan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.
Hammarberg held separate meetings with Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian, opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian, human rights campaigners, and media representatives on January 18, the first day of the three-day trip.
He was also scheduled to meet with President Serzh Sarkisian, other senior government officials, and leaders of the political parties represented in the Armenian parliament.
The discussions were expected to focus on the Armenian authorities' human rights record and, in particular, their compliance with resolutions adopted by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) following their 2008 postelection crackdown on the Ter-Petrossian-led opposition.
The PACE demanded the release of all oppositionists arrested on "seemingly artificial or politically motivated charges" and an objective inquiry into the deadly March 2008 clashes in Yerevan.
