19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

There are small communities of religious groups, who constitute less than 5 percent of the population ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24786]

"There are small communities of other religious groups. There was no reliable census data on religious minorities, and estimates from congregants varied significantly. These groups constitute less than 5 percent of the population and include Roman Catholics, Armenian Uniate (Mekhitarist) Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Armenian Evangelical Christians, Molokans, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, various groups of charismatic Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Yezidis (non-Muslim Kurds who practice Yezidism), Jews, Sunni Muslim Kurds, Shi'ite Muslims, Baha'is, and others. Yezidis are concentrated primarily in agricultural areas around Mount Aragats, northwest of Yerevan. Armenian Catholics live mainly in the north, while most Jews, Mormons, Baha'is, and Orthodox Christians reside in Yerevan, along with a small community of mostly Shi'ite Muslims, including Iranians, and temporary residents from the Middle East."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Court invalidated the decision that a member of Jehovah's Witnesses be deprived of her parental rights because of her religious affiliation ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24794]

"On May 15, 2008, a judge from Yerevan's Shengavit community general jurisdiction court invalidated the decision of the Guardianship Board of Yerevan Davitashen community recommending that a member of Jehovah's Witnesses be deprived of her parental rights because of her religious affiliation. In April 2008 Jehovah's Witnesses cleared shipments of religious literature that in March 2007 customs officials had evaluated at a significantly higher rate than the group expected by paying the full price and took their case to the administrative court. At the end of the reporting period, the court had not made a decision."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses complained that the courts continued to hand down longer sentences for evasion of alternative service ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24795]

"Jehovah's Witnesses complained that, compared with the prior reporting period, the courts continued to hand down longer sentences for evasion of alternative service. Between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, of the 36 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced, 19 received 30-month sentences and 3 received 36-month sentences, the maximum allowed by law. The remaining 14 received prison terms ranging between 22 and 27 months. According to Jehovah's Witnesses leaders in Yerevan, at the end of the reporting period, 78 of their members remained in prison for refusal to perform military service or alternative labor service on conscientious and religious grounds. Representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses stated that all of the prisoners had been given the opportunity to serve an alternative to military service rather than prison time but had refused because the military continued to retain administrative control over the alternative service. Other than Jehovah's Witnesses who were conscientious objectors, there were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

There were reports of societal abuses based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24797]

"There were reports of societal abuses based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice. Societal attitudes toward most minority religious groups were ambivalent. While many citizens are not religiously observant, the link between Armenian ethnicity and the Armenian Church is strong.  According to some observers, the general population expressed negative attitudes about minority religious groups, especially Jehovah's Witnesses, because of the latter's refusal to serve in the military, the group's little-understood proselytizing practices, and a widespread but unsubstantiated belief that Jehovah's Witnesses pay the desperately poor to convert. Minority religious groups at times continued to be targets of hostile sermons by Armenian Church clerics, and members of minority religious groups experienced societal discrimination and intolerance."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses reported that an alleged Armenian Apostolic priest physically assaulted a member of their group after the member offered to engage in Bible study with him ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24798]

"On May 5, 2008, a member of Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with the police, claiming that a man assaulted her and a fellow member when she offered to engage him in Bible study. By the end of the reporting period, the police had not acted on the complaint.  On February 21, 2008, Jehovah's Witnesses reported that an alleged Armenian Apostolic priest, Nver Melkonyan, physically assaulted a member of their group in Sisian after the member offered to engage in Bible study with him. The member of Jehovah's Witnesses who was attacked complained to the police, Prosecutor General, and Ombudsman, requesting that the Government prosecute the assailant. The police refused to initiate a criminal case, since Melkonyan refuted the assault. Jehovah's Witnesses reported that in July 2007 Melkonyan had on different occasions attacked two other Jehovah's Witnesses, who did not file official complaints. The Armenian Church denied that Melkonyan had any clerical affiliation with it."

Document(s): Open document

19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Yerevan: Off-duty police major and his brother allegedly beat a man who was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24799]

"On July 31, 2007, in Yerevan, an off-duty police major and his brother allegedly beat a man who was a member of Jehovah's Witnesses. The man and his wife, who was a witness to the attack, filed complaints with the police, Prosecutor's Office, and human rights defender. The police reportedly closed the case due to lack of evidence.  Throughout the reporting period, a group called One Nation Party placed posters in Yerevan that denounced Jehovah's Witnesses and called upon persons to be aware of sects."

Document(s): Open document

02.07.2008 - Source: Freedom House

As of the end of September 2007, 82 Jehovah’s Witnesses were serving prison terms for evading military service ("Freedom in the World 2008") [ID 24548]

"Freedom of religion is generally respected, and most registered religious groups reported no serious legal impediments to their activities. The Armenian Apostolic Church, to which 90 percent of Armenians formally belong, enjoys some privileges not afforded to other faiths. As of the end of September 2007, 82 Jehovah’s Witnesses were serving prison terms for evading military service."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Yerevan: Representatives of the Jehovah’s Witnesses reported that physical assaults against their members were not adequately investigated by police ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23536]

"Representatives of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Yerevan reported that physical assaults against their members were not adequately investigated by police.
In February Jehovah’s Witnesses Ruben Khachaturian and Narine Gevorkian were allegedly beaten and threatened by neighbours in the Shengavit suburb of Yerevan. They said that the police failed to initiate a prompt investigation."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2008 - Source: Amnesty International

Imprisonment of conscientious objectors, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, continued ("Annual Report 2008") [ID 23537]

"The Armenian authorities failed to introduce a civilian alternative to compulsory military service, an obligation undertaken on joining the Council of Europe.
Imprisonment of conscientious objectors, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, continued. In September there were reportedly 82 Jehovah’s Witnesses in detention, a record number. Numbers of conscientious objectors imprisoned increased due to successful prosecution appeals for maximum sentences and greater reluctance to grant parole.
Jehovah’s Witnesses reported further problems on release due to the authorities’ refusal to grant them certification of fulfilment of service, without which important documents such as passports and internal residence permits were harder to obtain."

Document(s): Open document

26.09.2007 - Source: Forum 18

82 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for refusing military service and the military-controlled alternative service on grounds of religious conscience; according to Jehovah's Witnesses 73 of them are serving terms of 18 to 36 months imprisonment, while 9 more are awaiting trial ("Armenia: 82 religious prisoners of conscience is new record") [ID 21543]

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses complain that courts hand down tougher sentences for evasion of alternative labor service ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21092]

"Jehovah's Witnesses complained that the courts handed down tougher sentences for evasion of alternative labor service during the reporting period. In the period covered by this report, of the 48 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced, 24 received 30-month sentences and 5 received 36-month sentences, the maximum allowed by law. Of the remaining 19 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced during the reporting period, 15 received sentences ranging between 22 and 27 months, and 4 received 18-month sentences. Of 36 Jehovah's Witnesses convicted during the previous reporting period, only 1 received a 30-month sentence, and none received 36-month sentences; the majority were sentenced to either 18 or 24 months of imprisonment."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

19 Jehovah's Witnesses who abandoned alternative military service were acquitted, and criminal proceedings were terminated ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21093]

"Nineteen Jehovah's Witnesses who had begun and then abandoned alternative military service were acquitted, and criminal proceedings against them were terminated by a decision of the Prosecutor General on September 12, 2006. The individuals were charged with desertion or absence without leave. Seven of the 19 had been in pretrial detention or agreed not to leave the country before their trials at the time of their acquittal. The others had received sentences ranging from 2 to 3 years in prison and served between 5 and 9 months of their sentences."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses continued to be targets of hostile sermons by some Armenian Church clerics and experienced occasional societal discrimination ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21094]

"According to some observers, the general population expressed negative attitudes about Jehovah's Witnesses because the latter refused to serve in the military, engaged in little-understood proselytizing practices, and because of a widespread but unsubstantiated belief that they pay the desperately poor to convert. Jehovah's Witnesses continued to be targets of hostile sermons by some Armenian Church clerics and experienced occasional societal discrimination. Unlike in the previous reporting period, the press did not report complaints of allegedly illegal proselytizing lodged by citizens against members of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Incidents of Jehovah's Witnesses being harassed, assaulted and threatened ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21095]

"On June 1, 2007, in the village of Lusarat, a passing Armenian Apostolic priest verbally harassed and assaulted two Jehovah's Witnesses having a Bible discussion with a woman in the central square. While the Witnesses agreed to drop assault charges pending the priest's apology, none was forthcoming. Police closed the case for lack of evidence after the priest denied the incident.
Two Jehovah's Witnesses filed a complaint with local police after they were allegedly threatened by a man with a pistol while they engaged in public ministry on April 15, 2007. Police did not investigate the incident, citing lack of evidence.
At the end of the reporting period, a Witness dropped his case against a co-worker who had attacked him. Police had taken no action on the matter. On March 29, 2007, the co-worker had attempted to choke the Witness at their place of work after discovering that the latter was a member of the religious group.
The group also reported that an Armenian Church priest assaulted two female Jehovah's Witnesses on August 21, 2006. According to the group, one of the victims suffered a broken arm. Police refused to initiate an investigation, in part because the priest expressed remorse, and the women were unable to appeal the decision."

Document(s): Open document

06.2007 - Source: Freedom House

Religious groups reported no serious legal impediments to their activities; Jehovah’s Witnesses have been denied registration repeatedly ("Freedom in the World 2007") [ID 20476]

"Freedom of religion is generally respected, and most registered religious groups reported no serious legal impediments to their activities. The Armenian Apostolic Church, to which 90 percent of Armenians formally belong, enjoys some privileges not afforded to other faiths. While 50 religious groups are officially registered, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have been denied registration repeatedly because of the group’s strong opposition to compulsory military service. As of the end of 2006, 43 Jehovah’s Witnesses were serving prison terms for evading military service."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

19 Jehovah's Witnesses filed an appeal to prevent retrospective prosecution for their abandonment of the alternative service; 15 of the 19 applicants arrested ("Annual Report 2007") [ID 20384]

"In January an amendment to the criminal code was adopted making conscripts who refuse to perform alternative service liable to imprisonment. In May, 19 men, all Jehovah's Witnesses, filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights to prevent retrospective prosecution for their abandonment of the alternative service in 2004. Fifteen of the 19 applicants had been arrested in August 2005 and sentenced to between two and three and a half years' imprisonment under existing articles of the criminal code dealing with desertion from military service rather than refusal to perform alternative service. Although their convictions were later overturned and all were subsequently released, the courts refused to formally acquit the men. The case was dropped in November when all 19 were acquitted and all charges against them dropped.
In October a decision of the Court of Appeal granted a prosecutor's request for a stricter sentence to be handed down to Jehovah's Witness Hayk Avetisian. His sentence was increased from 24 to 30 months."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Many members of Jehovah's Witnesses refused alternative service for conscientious objectors; according to Jehovah's Witnesses lawyers, 52 of their members were in prison ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20215]

"Although the country has a law providing alternative service for conscientious objectors, the military services themselves administer the alternative service, and many members of Jehovah's Witnesses refused the alternative program for that reason. At year's end, according to Jehovah's Witnesses lawyers, 52 of their members were in prison, 49 of them serving sentences and three awaiting trial."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses organization reported that an Armenian Apostolic priest assaulted two of its members ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20216]

"The Jehovah's Witnesses organization reported that an Armenian Apostolic priest assaulted two of its members on August 21. According to the group, one of the victims suffered a broken arm and a concussion. The group said police opened an investigation but quickly ended it, stating that the priest expressed remorse for his crime."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses continued to experience occasional societal discrimination ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 20217]

"According to observers the general population viewed "non‑traditional" religious groups with suspicion and expressed negative attitudes about members of Jehovah's Witnesses because of their proselytizing practices and because they refused to serve in the armed forces. Members of Jehovah's Witnesses continued to experience occasional societal discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

07.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Church advocates restrictions on activities of nontraditional religious groups as Jehova`s Witnesses ("Countries at the Crossroads 2006") [ID 18840]

"The church advocates restrictions on activities of nontraditional religious groups, notably Jehovah's Witnesses. The U.S.-based group was for years denied official registration primarily due to its strong opposition to military service, which is compulsory in Armenia. Dozens of its young male members have been imprisoned for refusing the two-year duty. Jehovah's Witnesses was finally legalized in October 2004, shortly after the entry into force of a new law on alternative civilian service. At least two dozen Jehovah's Witnesses enlisted for the new service, mostly as hospital attendants. However, most of them had deserted their civilian places of service by May 2005 on the grounds that they were overseen by military officials. Seven of them were sentenced to between two and three years in prison in October 2005 on desertion charges."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Practice of hazing soldiers assumedly continuing; homosexuals, Jehova's witnesses and Yezidis frequently selected ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 15687]

"Although there was no current, reliable reporting on the full extent of military hazing, soldiers reported to human rights NGOs that the practice continued. During the year one local NGO estimated there were seven hazing incidents; other local and international NGOs insisted the number was significantly higher. Homosexuals, Yezidis (a non-Muslim, Kurdish, religious-ethnic group), and Jehovah's Witnesses also reported that they were singled out for hazing by officers and other conscripts [...]. Authorities did not take any significant measures to limit or stop the hazing."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses continued to experience occasional societal discrimination ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 15835]

"According to observers, the general population viewed "nontraditional" religious groups with suspicion and expressed negative attitudes about Jehovah's Witnesses, because they misunderstood their proselytizing practices and the Jehovah's Witnesses refused to serve in the military. Jehovah's Witnesses continued to experience occasional societal discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

22.02.2006 - Source: Forum 18

48 Jehovah's Witness and Molokan, a strictly pacifist Russian christian group, imprisoned because of denying alternative service run by the Armenian army; in January 2004 authorities promised to the Council of Europe to free all conscientious objectors and introduce a genuinely civilian alternative service ("Nearly 50 Jehovah's Witness and Molokan prisoners of conscience") [#44885],  [ID 3103]

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Ongoing harassment and ill-treatment of Jehova's Witnesses refusing military service ("World Report 2006") [#42310],  [ID 17663]

"Despite amendments to the law on alternative service introduced in November 2004, Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to be persecuted for their refusal to perform military service. According to the Armenian Helsinki Association, in September 2005 sixteen Jehovah’s Witnesses were serving prison terms, and nineteen were awaiting trial, for refusing to perform military service.
On June 9, 2005, according to Forum 18 News Service, a court in Stepanakert, in the unrecognized republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, sentenced Armen Grigorian, an Armenian conscientious objector, to two years in prison for refusing to perform military service. A year earlier, the Armenian military had forcibly taken Grigorian, an eighteen-year-old from a Jehovah’s Witness family, from Yerevan to a military unit in Nagorno-Karabakh. His request for alternative civilian service was rejected. When he refused to sing the national anthem and swear the military oath, army officials beat him and later forced him to stand in his underwear in front of about 1,800 soldiers and explain why he refused to perform military service."

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2005 - Source: Forum 18

Foreign ministry admits that control of military over alternative service is violation to commitment to Council of Europe to introduce genuinely civilian alternative service by January 2004; 4 Jehovah's Witnesses sentenced to 3 years each for abandoning alternative service in psychiatric hospital in May ("We are breaking our Council of Europe commitments, official admits") [#38744],  [ID 3104]

Document(s): Open document

03.11.2005 - Source: Prima News

4 Jehova's Witnesses sentenced to 3 years each for having abandoned alternative service ("Jehovah’s Witnesses sentenced") [#39040],  [ID 3105]

Document(s): Open document

23.09.2005 - Source: Forum 18

22 Jehova's Witnesses abandoning alternative military service because it remains under defence ministry control face severe punishment; 1 imprisoned by Yerevan court for two and a half years for desertion ("New wave of Jehovah's Witness sentences begins") [#37260],  [ID 3106]

Document(s): Open document

24.08.2005 - Source: Transkaukasus Institut

No information on attacks on members of Hare-Krishna community after 1995; cases of convictions of Jehovah's witnesses for conscientious objection: "outsiders" like members of religious minorities or homosexuals are at risk of maltreatment in the army (expert opinion, in German) ("Stellungnahme vom 24.8.2005 an VG Schleswig-Holstein - 14 A 263/00 -") [#37163],  [ID 3107]

Document(s): Open document

25.07.2005 - Source: Gesellschaft für Bedrohte Völker

Situation of religious minorities; convictions of Jehovah's witnesses for conscientious objection; maltreatment of members of religious minorities and of homosexuals a common phenomenon in the army (expert opinion, in German) ("Stellungnahme vom 25.7.2005 an VG Schleswig-Holstein - 14 A 263/00 -") [#37165],  [ID 3108]

Document(s): Open document

25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Conscientious objectors imprisoned ("Annual Report 2005") [#32286],  [ID 3109]

"As of the end of 2004 prison sentences of between one and two years had been imposed on 13 men, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, as a result of their conscientious objection. Another was fined, and a further 11 had been released on parole."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

21.03.2005 - Source: Forum 18

Five young Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for refusing military service so far in March ("New wave of Jehovah's Witness sentences") [#30876],  [ID 3110]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Despite new law on Alternative Military Service, 10 members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in prison for refusing military service ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3111]

"In June, a new law on Alternative Military Service, took effect to exempt conscientious objectors from the draft, and, by year's end, the National Assembly completed all legal requirements to implement the law. However, 10 members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses remained in prison for refusing compulsory military service as conscientious objectors before the law went into effect; 3 others were in pretrial detention for draft evasion or desertion, and 17 others who were imprisoned, were released to house arrest after serving one-third of their sentences."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Jehovah's Witnesses registered as legal entity despite protests of Apostolic Curch; population shows negative attitudes ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29491],  [ID 3112]

"In October, the State Registrar registered the Jehovah's Witnesses as a legal entity. The group had applied for registration 13 times since 1995. In November, senior members of the Armenian Apostolic Church called on the Government to reverse the registration, saying the group's activities ran counter to the country's interests. The Government ignored these requests. [...]
According to observers, the general population viewed "nontraditional" religious groups with suspicion and expressed negative attitudes about Jehovah's Witnesses, because they refused to serve in the military and misunderstood their proselytizing practices. Jehovah's Witnesses continued to be targets of hostile sermons by some Armenian Apostolic Church clerics and experienced occasional societal discrimination."

Document(s): Open document

22.02.2005 - Source: Forum 18

Jehovah's Witness jailed for four years by court for refusing to do military service ("Nagarno-Karabakh: "Inhuman" sentence on religious conscientious objector") [#30855],  [ID 3113]

Document(s): Open document

06.01.2005 - Source: Forum 18

Religious conscientious objector who is seriously contemplating becoming a Jehovah's Witness, has been forcibly taken by authorities from Armenia to a military unit in Nagorno-Karabakh ("Religious conscientious objector forcibly taken to Nagorno-Karabakh") [#28116],  [ID 3114]

Document(s): Open document

28.10.2004 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Jehovah’s Witnesses, who have long faced persecution from country's authorities, especially the military, finally received legal status ("Armenia Opens Door to Jehovah’s Witnesses") [#26683],  [ID 3115]

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2004 - Source: US Department of State

23 members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in prison charged with draft evasion or desertion ("International Religious Freedom Report 2004") [#26258],  [ID 3116]

"At the end of the period covered by this report, 23 members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in prison and 3 in pretrial detention charged with draft evasion or, if forcibly drafted, with desertion due to refusal to serve; 43 members who had been serving terms were released to house arrest after serving one‑third of their sentences. Representatives of Jehovah's Witnesses said that those imprisoned were members of their community who had been called for military service and went directly to police to turn themselves in rather than waiting until induction to declare conscientious objection. The Law on Alternative Military Service took effect on June 1, but the Government had not created implementing regulations by the end of the reporting period. The law will allow conscientious objectors to participate in an alternative civil service instead of compulsory military duty. One alternative method would allow conscientious objectors to serve in the army without carrying arms for 36 months, and another would allow them to do civil service for 42 months. Both options are substantially longer that the 2 years of service required of those in the Army. Government officials have stated that the law would be implemented by Fall 2004; however, the Government had not formed a committee to design these regulations by the end of the period covered by this report."

Document(s): Open document

19.04.2004 - Source: Forum 18

24 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for conscientious objection, further 3 await trial ("Council of Europe fails to punish commitment violations over imprisoned conscientious objectors") [#21454],  [ID 3117]

Document(s): Open document

16.09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Young men who refuse military service as conscientious objectors imprisoned over recent years and a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses remain in detention; mistreatment of members of religious minorities within the army and penal institutions reported ("Background information; situation of ethnic minorities; groups possibly at risk: religious minorities, members of opposition, homosexuals, deserters") [#47207],  [ID 3118]

"124. The Jehovah’s Witnesses group claim to have 7,500 adherents and have thus far been denied registration on the grounds that several provisions of their statute were considered to be contrary to the Constitution and Armenian legislation, allegedly due to “illegal proselytizing” and the refusal to the military service (cf. paragraph 4.11. below). The Hare Krishnas are not registered as their membership is below the membership threshold of 200.
125. According to the Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Organisations, registered religious denominations have the possibility to perform military service in unarmed units. However, Armenian law does not allow for conscientious objection to military service and does not provide for any alternative service. It appears that, in practice, the possibility offered by the Law on Freedom of Religion and Religious Organisations is rarely granted to conscientious objectors. Some denominations, in particular Jehovah’s Witnesses, not being a registered religious denomination, may fear disproportionate punishment and harassment for draft evasion and desertion and discriminatory treatment in the army for being a member of a non-traditional religious group. Young Jehovah’s Witnesses who refuse military service as conscientious objectors have been imprisoned over recent years and a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses remain in
detention. Mistreatment of members of religious minorities within the army and penal institutions has been reported.
126. Although mere membership of one of these religious groups would in itself not suffice to substantiate a claim to refugee status, the general suspicion of non-traditional religious groups and the events described above may nevertheless in certain cases give rise to a well-founded fear of persecution on religious grounds for individual members."

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2003 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Jehovah’s Witnesses want to take government to court if it refuses again to grant them official status ("Armenia: Jehovah’s Witnesses Take Stand") [#15162],  [ID 3119]

Document(s): Open document

15.07.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

During the last few years there have been numerous cases of discrimination of Jehovah’s Witnesses ("Problems of Religious Freedom and Tolerance in Selected OSCE States") [#14307],  [ID 3120]

"Moreover, during the last few years, there have been numerous cases where Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as members of other non-traditional religious communities, allegedly have been dismissed from their jobs or physically attacked because of their religious convictions. According to the Armenian Helsinki Association, the authorities have failed to duly investigate and prosecute such cases. The Armenian Helsinki Association has also received reports about cases where law enforcement and judicial authorities have acted in a discriminatory manner toward members of non-traditional communities. For example, police have declined to investigate criminal complaints filed by Jehovah’s Witnesses who have fallen victim to violence and judges have shown open contempt for parents who are Jehovah’s Witnesses when ruling on custody cases.

• In May 2003, a Yerevan court heard a child custody case, where the father demanded that he be granted the right to custody of his three children with the argument that their mother is not capable of granting them a good and proper upbringing since she is a Jehovah’s Witness. Acting in a scornful manner toward the mother, the judge asked her a number of irrelevant and disrespectful questions and implied that the religious convictions held by Jehovah’s Witnesses are aimed at “destroying families” and that all children should be brought up “in the spirit of the Armenian Apostolic Church.” The judge did not pose a single question to the father before ruling in his favor.

In some cases members of minority religious groups have also been criminally prosecuted on grounds which raise concern that they have been targeted solely because they confess non-traditional faiths. For example:

• In June 2001, the regional prosecutor’s office in Armavir brought charges against Jehovah’s Witness Lyova Margaryan under the then Criminal Code article 244, which criminalized “infringement of the rights of citizens under the guise of performing religious rituals.” According to the prosecutor’s office, Margaryan had “enticed” minors into participating in meetings organized by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the town of Metsamor, close to the capital Yerevan. It was the first time in 20 years that charges were brought under this article, which was introduced in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison. In September 2001, the regional court in Armavir acquitted Margaryan. This verdict was subsequently upheld on appeal by the Appeal Court in Yerevan and the Court of Cassation, which is the highest court in the country. The Cassation Court concluded that the charges against Margaryan were unfounded and stressed that the Constitution protects freedom of worship.

While the acquittal of Margaryan was welcome, it remains a matter of concern that such prosecutions are possible under the country’s Criminal Code. Indeed, a new Criminal Code was adopted earlier this year, and will enter into force as of August 1, 2003. However, the new Code contains an article with the similar wording as that of the former article 244, although the maximum penalty that may be imposed under it has been decreased from five years to three months of imprisonment."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

08.05.2003 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Jehovah's Witnesses were not granted registration ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Armenia") [#12599],  [ID 3121]

"The Jehovah’s Witnesses, in particular, were targeted, while their organizations were not
granted registration.
· The Jehovah’s Witnesses had made six unsuccessful attempts to register since 1995. Each
time, the organization was asked to provide specific information that was not required by law.
In particular, in September 2002 the state body for registration demanded a statement
expressing the official position of the organization on issues such as family, education, health,
civil duties and human rights.14
· The Armenian customs held approximately 80 kg of literature confiscated earlier from the
Jehovah Witnesses because they had not been officially registered.
· On April 17, the Court of Cassation ruled in favor of the Jehovah's Witness, Levon Margaryan
who was charged for "impinging on the rights and freedoms of citizens under the pretext of
religious freedom" under article 244(1) the Criminal Code. The ruling overturned the decision
of a first instance court of September 2001 and the Court of Appeal of March 2002.
Margaryan was the leader of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the town of Metsamor. The charges had
been brought by the regional prosecutor of Armavir in June 2001 because of the involvement
of 12 children in the services of the unregistered organization despite the fact that the children
had permission from their parents to do so. This was the first time article 244 of the Criminal
Code had been applied in twenty years. The Court of Cassation established that Levon
Margarian's religious activities as a Jehovah Witness could not be defined as a criminal
offence and that his activities were under the protection of the Constitution guaranteeing the
freedom of worship. In two other instances, the courts ruled in favor of plaintiffs who were Jehovah Witnesses. The
first was the divorce case of Olga Kirakosyan, and the second was the property dispute case of Naira
Kegyan."

Document(s): Open document

11.04.2003 - Source: Prima News

Woman sacked from the financial section of the municipal police department for joining the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious organization ("Discrimination based on religious beliefs") [#15858],  [ID 3122]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

At year's end, 16 members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in detention for refusal to serve in the military services ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3123]

"At year's end, 16 members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in detention for refusal to serve in the military services and 10 were under house arrest; 11 were released on parole after serving part of their sentences, and 5 additional members were awaiting trial (see Section 2.c.). The Government has sought to reopen prosecutions against two members of Jehovah's Witnesses convicted on the same charge."

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Jehovah's Witness who refused to perform his military service won his trial in March 2002 ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3124]

"In contrast, Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain their principal (conscientious) objection to military service on grounds that their members should neither bear arms nor serve anybody, including a military commander, but God. However, when it comes to military service Armenians are quite principal, expecting that every Armenian should serve his country and thus also serve in the military. The Jehovah’s Witnesses refusal to serve creates frictions that, together with the current legal context that does not foresee an alternative military service, have led to a number of convictions of Jehovah's Witnesses for draft evasion, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 3 years in prison. Currently, 22 Jehovah’s Witnesses are serving their sentences for draft evasion, ranging from 1 to 2 years in prison, and an additional 8 have been released, but are still technically under arrest. Overall, a RFE/RL report as well as the Helsinki Association mention more than 100 young men prosecuted for draft evasion, most of them Jehovah's Witnesses.
Although a draft law on alternative military service is in the making it still contains passages that are objectionable to the Jehovah's Witnesses and it will certainly take some more time before an acceptable and durable solution will be found (please see Ch. II.4 on Draft evasion/Desertion).
In March 2002, according to a high ranking official of the Ministry of Defense, there was a court proceeding against a Jehovah’s Witness who refused to perform his military service and he won this trial."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Application for official registration has already been turned down twice ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3125]

"Currently an estimated 50 religious organisations are registered in Armenia according to
the above criteria. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not registered, and their
application has already been turned down twice. Previously, the official registration
procedure was conducted by the Religious Council that had originally been appointed by the president, but has now been dissolved. A new body replacing the previous council
under the Prime Minister’s office is in the making. [...] Coming back to the issue of registration, the Jehovah's Witnesses are not overtly
inhibited in exercising their faith, they are not arrested and do not have their activities
broken up by the police. The disadvantage of not being registered is, however, that this
can always serve as an excuse for the authorities to disrupt their activities, arguing that
a religious organisation that is not registered is carrying out illegal activities. This could
be used whenever the authorities wanted to put pressure on them.
GK:
Otherwise, the only advantage of registration is that a community is officially entitled to
act as a registered clerical organisation within the confines of Armenian law. As religious
communities do not receive any funds from the state non-registration does not carry any
negative financial implications."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

According to the government principles, goals and structure of the Jehovah's Witnesses contradict the law; key conflict seemes to be linked to their refusal of military service ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3126]

"In the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses the government and the authorities argue that
their principles and goals as well as the structure of their organisation contradict the
Law. Of course, the Jehovah's Witnesses are very active and their very aggressive
proselytising evokes resentment. For instance, one of the leaders of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses was charged on suspicion of having attempted to forcibly convert children but
was eventually acquitted under a considerable degree of international pressure. In
response, the Presidential Commission on Human Rights recently issued an opinion
demanding that this judgment should be reconsidered because the children were being
forcibly involved in religious activities and this went against the Convention on the Rights
of the Child.
Nonetheless, the charge of proselytising is clearly more of an excuse and the key conflict
between the government and the Jehovah's Witnesses seems to be linked to their
refusal of military service, although both explanations are not mutually exclusive.
Looking at Mormons, it can be observed that active proselytising on their part poses no
problem, that they are more or less accepted and have managed to obtain official
registration, at least partially because they fulfill their legal obligation to serve in the
Armenian military."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

40 members of the Jehovah's Witnesses, sentenced for refusal to perfom military service, amnestied in June 2001 ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3127]

"Dem Menschenrechtsbericht des U.S. Department of State für das Jahr 2001 zufolge befanden sich insgesamt 13 Angehörige der Sekte wegen Wehrdienstverweigerung in Umerziehungslagern (16 laut der Internationalen Helsinki Vereinigung), vier weitere erwartete ein entsprechendes Verfahren. Andererseits waren 40 Angehörige der Sekte durch die von Präsident Kotscharjan vorgeschlagene und vom armenischen Gesetzgeber bewilligte Amnestie von Häftlingen im Juni 2001 aus der Haft entlassen worden. Im März 2002 soll ein Angehöriger der Sekte in einem von ihm angestrengten Verfahren gerichtlich gesiegt haben."

Document(s): Open document

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Public's attitude towards Jehovah's Witnesses remains negative to hostile ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3128]

"Der Staatsrat für Religionsangelegenheiten lehnt weiterhin eine Zulassung der Zeugen Jehovas
als religiöse Organisation ab, obwohl die Sekte inzwischen allein in Jerewan mehrere
Zehntausende Mitglieder besitzen soll. Dadurch ist es weiterhin schwer für Zeugen Jehovas,
Orte für ihre Zusammenkünfte und Gottesdienste zu finden, und Personen, die bereit sind,
ihnen Räumlichkeiten zu vermieten, werden von der Polizei aufgesucht und verwarnt. In
Mengen nach Armenien eingeführte Publikationen der Sekte werden an der Grenze beschlagnahmt.
Obwohl es Mitgliedern offenbar freisteht, Veröffentlichungen in kleinen Mengen
für den Eigengebrauch einzuführen, berichteten die Führer der Sekte, dass Post von
einer Gemeinde zur anderen von den Zollbehörden mit der Begründung der Proselytenmacherei
beschlagnahmt wird. Im August 2000 erliessen der Bürgermeister und Stadtrat von
Talin einen Erlass, mit dem zwei Mitglieder der Sekte wegen "Agitation" aus Talin verbannt
wurden. Anlass waren die Beschwerden von Einwohnern über die Haustürmission der "Zeugen",
was als Belästigung empfunden wurden.
Die Internationale Helsinki Vereinigung berichtet, gestützt auf Angaben ihrer armenischen
Sektion, dass die regionale Staatsanwaltschaft von Armawir am 6. Juni 2001 ein Strafverfahren
gegen Lewon Markarjan, den stellvertretenden Vorsitzenden de Nationalrates der
Zeugen Jehovas in Armenien, eröffnete. Ihm werden nach Art. 244,1 StGB die Schmälerung
der Rechte und Freiheiten von Bürgern unter dem Vorwand der Ausübung der Religionsfreiheit
vorgeworfen. Anlass war die Teilnahme von zwölf Kindern an einer religiösen Zeremonie,
die die örtliche Gemeinschaft der Zeugen Jehovas in Armawir organisiert hatte. Angaben
des Anwalts von Herrn Markarjan zufolge besassen die Kinder allerdings die schriftliche
Genehmigung ihrer Eltern zur Teilnahme an dem Gottesdienst. Der fragliche Strafrechtsartikel
wurde damit zum ersten Mal seit 20 Jahren angewendet. Am 17. September 2001 wurde
Herr Markarjan freigesprochen, doch die Staatsanwaltschaft ging in Berufung.
[...]
Obwohl die Zeugen Jehovas in Armenien Missionserfolge verbuchen konnten, bleibt die
Einstellung der überwältigenden Mehrheit der Bevölkerung ihnen gegenüber ablehnend bis
feindselig."

Document(s): Open document

25.09.2002 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Prosecution of young members of the Jehovah's Witnesses who refuse military service ("Crackdown On Jehovah's Witnesses Strains Ties With Europe") [#8784],  [ID 3129]

"The Council of Europe is expected tomorrow to issue a strong warning to Yerevan over its failure to legalize Jehovah's Witnesses and its continuing prosecution of young members of the denomination who refuse military service. Strasbourg officials say the practice runs counter to a key condition for Armenia's membership in the council. [...]
About 100 young men, most of them Jehovah's Witnesses, have faced criminal prosecution for violating an Armenian law that requires all male citizens to serve in the armed forces for two years. [...] Armenia undertook to enact legislation entitling conscientious objectors to an alternative civilian service within three years of its accession to the Council of Europe in January 2001. Armenian officials say they are working on a corresponding draft law and will meet the deadline for its passage. In the meantime, they are continuing to enforce the existing legislation, which does not exempt anyone from military service on religious grounds -- a stance denounced by Council of Europe officials. [...]
The refusal of Jehovah's Witnesses to bear arms, salute the flag, or participate in secular government has generated resentment from some, as has their practice of door-to-door proselytizing. Their strong opposition to military service is the main reason why the Armenian authorities still deny Jehovah's Witnesses an official registration that would enable them to operate legally. [...]
Armenia's nationalist prime minister, Andranik Markarian, [...] indicated that the government should rein in nontraditional religious groups, even if that contradicts Council of Europe commitments. [...]
There are more than 50 officially registered religious organizations in Armenia. The ancient Apostolic Church, to which more than 90 percent of Armenians belong, is the biggest and most powerful. Its privileged status is upheld by an Armenian law on religious activities. [...] Mindful of its positive image, the church jealously reacts to the spread of groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses and supports tough government action against them."

Document(s): Open document

25.09.2002 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Crackdwon on Jeohovah's Witnesses ("25.09. 2002 - RFE/RL: Armenia: Crackdown On Jehovah's Witnesses Strains Ties With Europe") [ID 3130]

"Armenia's harsh treatment of a tiny religious minority is causing new strains in its relations with a key pan-European structure. The Council of Europe is expected tomorrow to issue a strong warning to Yerevan over its failure to legalize Jehovah's Witnesses and its continuing prosecution of young members of the denomination who refuse military service. Strasbourg officials say the practice runs counter to a key condition for Armenia's membership in the council. The Armenian authorities, for their part, say they remain committed to fulfilling their pledge to ensure the unfettered activities of all nontraditional religious groups."

Document(s): 25.09. 2002 - RFE/RL: Armenia: Crackdown On Jehovah's Witnesses Strains Ties With Europe

09.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Jehovah's Witnesses ("Reisebericht Armenien 15.-21. Juli 2002") [#8888],  [ID 3131]

For statements of interviewpartners with regard to Jehovah's Witnesses please refer to p. 11-12 (in German)

Document(s): acc-arm0902.pdf

15.03.2002 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Acquittal of Jehovah's Witness on draft-dodging charges documented ("Armenia: Landmark Religious Freedom Ruling") [#6279],  [ID 3132]

"In a decision hailed by religious minorities and human rights groups, the Armenian appeal court has upheld the acquittal of a prominent Jehovah's Witness who'd been accused of inciting young men to avoid military service. [...]
Markarian, a lawyer who works at the Armenian nuclear power station, was head of the Jehovah's Witnesses in the town of Armavir. He was charged under Article 244