19.09.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Conscientious objectors continued to maintain that military control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable military service ("International Religious Freedom Report 2008") [ID 24790]

"The Law on Alternative Service allows conscientious objectors--subject to government panel approval--to perform either noncombatant military or labor service duties rather than serve as combat-trained military personnel. The law took effect in 2004 and applies to subsequent draftees and those serving prison terms for draft evasion. A January 2006 amendment to the Criminal Code criminalizes evasion of alternative labor service. However, conscientious objectors continued to maintain that military control of the alternative labor service amounted to unacceptable military service.[...] Conscientious objectors continued to face problems in obtaining necessary documents from the military commissariat."

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Conscientious objectors continued to complain that alternative service was under control of the military and so did not constitute a real civilian alternative to military service ("Annual Report 2007") [ID 20383]

"Armenia did not release conscientious objectors to military service, in defiance of its obligations and commitments undertaken when acceding to the Council of Europe to respect the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and despite the introduction of an alternative civilian service to military service in national legislation in July 2004. Conscientious objectors continued to complain that in both its legislative framework and implementation, Armenia's alternative service was under the supervision and control of the military and so did not constitute a real civilian alternative to military service. As of November there were reportedly 48 Jehovah's Witnesses and one Molokan (a member of a Russian religious minority) in detention for draft evasion. Forty-four of the Jehovah's Witnesses had been tried and sentenced to terms ranging from 18 to 48 months' imprisonment. The remaining four were charged and awaiting trial."

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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 3285]

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25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Conscientious objectors imprisoned ("Annual Report 2005") [#32286],  [ID 3286]

"Conscientious objectors continued to be sentenced to prison, despite parliament’s adoption in December 2003 of a law providing for unarmed military service or alternative civilian service, and despite Council of Europe requirements to free all those so imprisoned. The law, which provides terms of service of punitive length for conscientious objectors, entered into force in July.

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."

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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 3287]

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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 3288]

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31.10.2003 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

New legislation allowing Armenia's conscripts an alternative to front line service, has met with domestic and international criticism ("Armenia: Army Draft Reform Controversy") [#17311],  [ID 3290]

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16.09.2003 - Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

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 ("Background information; situation of ethnic minorities; groups possibly at risk: religious minorities, members of opposition, homosexuals, deserters") [#47207],  [ID 3289]

"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."

Document(s): Open document

28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

With regard to its accession to the Council of Euope Armenia is obliged to implement the law on civil service and to pardon all current jailed conscientious objectors ("Annual Report 2003") [#12997],  [ID 3292]

"Zu den Verpflichtungen, die Armenien mit seinem Beitritt zum Europarat eingegangen war, gehörte die Verabschiedung eines Zivildienstgesetzes bis Januar 2004 und die zwischenzeitliche Begnadigung aller inhaftierten Kriegsdienstverweigerer aus Gewissensgründen. Im Berichtsjahr wurde über ein Gesetz beraten, das einen unbewaffneten Militärdienst, jedoch keinen vom Europarat geforderten alternativen Zivildienst vorsah."

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28.05.2003 - Source: Amnesty International

Many Jehovas Witnesses remained in detention ("Annual Report 2003") [#12997],  [ID 3293]

"Im Berichtsjahr ließ die armenische Regierung nach wie vor keine Bereitschaft erkennen, ihre Verpflichtungen gegenüber Kriegsdienstverweigerern aus Gewissensgründen einzulösen, die sie mit dem Beitritt zum Europarat (siehe unten) eingegangen war. Bis Mitte Dezember wurden mindestens 16 Männer – ausnahmslos Zeugen Jehovas – zu Freiheitsstrafen zwischen einem und drei Jahren verurteilt, weil sie sich aus Gewissensgründen geweigert hatten, den obligatorischen Militärdienst anzutreten. Fünf weitere Kriegsdienstverweigerer aus Gewissensgründen wurden festgenommen und warteten Ende 2002 noch auf ihren Prozess. Zehn Kriegsdienstverweigerer kamen vor Ablauf ihrer Strafen aus der Haft frei, von denen zwei bereits zum zweiten Mal aus demselben Grund zu einer Gefängnisstrafe verurteilt worden waren. Die zehn wurden unter der Auflage entlassen, sich regelmäßig bei der Polizei zu melden."

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31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Many members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in detention, charged with draft evasion ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3294]

"Many members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in detention, charged with draft evasion or, if forcibly drafted, with desertion. Sixteen members of Jehovah's Witnesses remained in detention and ten were under house arrest. Five members have been arrested and were awaiting their trials at year's end. Members of Jehovah's Witnesses receiving draft notices continued to report directly to police and turned themselves in as draft evaders, rather then await induction to claim conscientious objector status. Military conscripts who were members of Jehovah's Witnesses were subject to even harsher treatment than other conscripts by military and civilian security officials, because their refusal to serve in the military was seen as a threat to national survival.
Alternative nonmilitary service was not available under current law to members of Jehovah's Witnesses. The Government promised the Council of Europe that it would pass an alternative military service law, and two differing drafts of such a law, one proposed by Parliament's Military Affairs Committee and the other by the Ministry of Defense, were presented to Parliament in September."

Document(s): Open document

25.09.2002 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Untiel legislation entitling conscientious objectors to an alternative civilian service will be enacted, Armenia continues to enforce the existing legislation, which does not exempt anyone from military service on religious grounds ("Crackdown On Jehovah's Witnesses Strains Ties With Europe") [#8784],  [ID 3295]

"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

01.09.1999 - Source: Amnesty International

Report on imprisonment of conscientious objectors (""Respect my human dignity": Imprisonment of conscientious objectors") [#371],  [ID 3296]

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