Fact-Finding Commission to be set up within Public Council — Draft law submitted to the National Assembly

Acting Minister of Justice Armenuhi Harutyunyan submitted the draft Law "On making supplements to the Law "On the Public Council"” to the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the National Assembly in the first reading. The main purpose of the draft is to set up a commission within the Public Council that will carry out fact-finding activities. Armenuhi Harutyunyan noted that the Fact-Finding Commission will carry out activities to gather facts about the fundamental and periodic human rights violations that have been committed in certain areas in the Republic of Armenia between 21 September 1991 and 2023 and will prepare a fact-finding report on those violations. The report will disclose the systemic causes of these violations, provide recommendations for preventing or eliminating the consequences of such violations, restoring or recognising the rights of those affected by these violations, etc.

Once drafted, the report will be submitted to the Government for the latter to consider the adoption of strategies and action plans targeted at relevant reforms within the scopes of competence thereof.

The cases and events in the period to be studied by the Fact-Finding Commission will include the following:

(1)     organising and conduct of nation-wide elections and elections of local self-government bodies and referenda;

(2)    political persecutions that took place in post-election processes;

(3)    alienation of property under the name of state needs, as well as alienation for ensuring the overriding public interest;

(4)    other manifestations of deprivation of rights of persons over property;

(5)    cases of deaths of military servicepersons in non-combat conditions;

(6)    cases of violations of the right to freedom of assembly.

The Commission will consist of 7 members, who will be selected through an open competition procedure. Persons with at least five years of professional work experience, recognised as reputable experts in their respective fields or enjoying public reputation, who have never held political office and have demonstrated political neutrality and restraint, will be among the members of the Commission. Non-commercial organisations will have the right to nominate a candidate.

The Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues of the National Assembly gave a positive opinion on the draft Law, which will be included in the agenda of the plenary session of the Parliament.