26.07.2007 - Source: EurasiaNet

Nagorno Karabakh: Gunfire and occasional shell explosions are routine for villagers living along the Azerbaijani-Armenian frontline ("Azerbaijan: Life on the Frontlines") [ID 21061]

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

No civilians, but 6 soldiers died from injuries caused by landmines ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46111],  [ID 15684]

"In contrast to previous years, there were no civilian deaths due to landmines; however, the government reported six soldiers died from injuries sustained from landmines. All parties involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict had laid landmines along the 540-mile border with Azerbaijan and the line of contact."

Document(s): Open document

09.02.2006 - Source: Armenialiberty

Lawyers allege police cover-up of case of US citizen stabbed to death in Yerevan 2 years ago ("Lawyers Allege Police Cover-Up Of U.S. Citizen’s Murder") [#44058],  [ID 3403]

Document(s): Open document

24.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Nagorno-Karabakh : According to UN, 123 people have been killed by land mines since 1994 end of conflict ("UN: More Than 100 Killed By Mines Near Nagorno-Karabakh") [#40955],  [ID 3404]

Document(s): Open document

09.11.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Azerbaijani officer killed in Karabakh cease-fire violation, when Armenian forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions in Agdam Rayon ("Azerbaijani officer killed in Karabakh cease-fire violation (Newsline Volume 8 Number 212)") [#26917],  [ID 3405]

Document(s): Open document

01.03.2004 - Source: Caucasian Knot

Karabakh military report on combat with Azerbaijan commandos ("Karabakh military report on combat with Azerbaijan commandos") [#21687],  [ID 3406]

Document(s): Open document

22.05.2003 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Nagorny Karabakh: up to a thousand people have been killed or injured by landmines since the ceasefire in 1993 ("Landmine Threat Haunts Karabakh") [#13345],  [ID 3407]

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

In 2002, only few deaths as result of landmines ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3408]

"During the year, there were a few deaths as a result of landmines, although reliable statistics were difficult to obtain. Landmines were used by all sides throughout the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and landmines have been laid on the 900-kilometer border line and territories along the contact line. During 2000 one person was killed and 12 injured. According to the Procurator General's office there have been two deaths in the military since 2001 as a result of landmines."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Crossborder hostage-taking by civilian and military personnel continued ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3409]

"The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that civilian and military personnel on all sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued occasionally to engage in crossborder hostage-taking, sometimes to win release of a friend or relative held on the other side but more often for ransom. The ICRC, in coordination with the OSCE, has facilitated a number of prisoner exchanges."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Deaths or injuries of civilians as result of cease-fire violations ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3410]

"Cease-fire violations by both sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict occasionally resulted in deaths and injuries to civilians."

Document(s): Open document

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

It is very difficult to generalise and contend that the police do not intervene in any cases related to persecution by the Mafia ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3417]

"As already mentioned, corruption is widespread in Armenia and an integrative part of the relations between the general population and the authorities. For instance, if you drive down the streets of Yerevan, every 200 meters there is a police man standing, flagging you down and asking for money - and you simply pay. It is reported that the policemen often ”buy” assignments to serve as traffic police since this is considered a lucrative post. Many believe that there is a general tendency of collusion between law enforcement and the underworld. Many politicians run a profitable business and are quite wealthy, and could be linked to the underworld. However, while connections between police, politicians and organised crime certainly exist, it is very difficult to generalise and contend that the police do not intervene in any cases related to persecution by the Mafia. Nevertheless, when considering related asylum claims, arguing that the concerned individuals should have sought the protection of domestic authorities before going abroad, it should be borne in mind that in Armenia there is a general lack of trust in the law enforcement, be it Mafia-related or not.""

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

10.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Security situation improved since the beginning of the 1990s ("Analysen und Hintergründe ") [#10328],  [ID 3419]

"Insgesamt hat sich jedoch die Sicherheitslage im Vergleich zu den frühen 1990er Jahren erheblich gebessert. Paradoxerweise wird das Verdienst an dieser Verbesserung dem ehemaligen Innenminister (bis November 1996) und späteren Oberbürgermeister Jerewans, Wano Siraderjan, zugesprochen, der selbst vom Mai bis Juni 2000 von Interpol zur Fahndung ausgeschrieben wurde. Mit Mitteln, die in sich fragwürdig, undemokratisch und nicht mit Rechtsstaatlichkeit vereinbar sind, erreichte Siraderjan, dass die öffentliche Sicherheit wiederhergestellt wurde. Das Führen von Schusswaffen bedarf der behördlichen Genehmigung und muss begründet sein, Verstösse werden geahndet. Wie die strafrechtliche Verfolgung der Mitglieder des einstigen Freiwilligenbataillons "Arabo" und andere Beispiele 1995 zeigten, diente damals der Vorwurf ungesetzlichen Waffenbesitzes auch als Instrument, um politische Gegner zu treffen. In einem besonders krassen Fall wurde der Besitz von Schusswaffen verfolgt, obwohl der Angeklagte dazu die offizielle Genehmigung der Behörden in Berg-Karabach besass. Viele Personen des öffentlichen Lebens haben trotzdem - teilweise auch aus Prestigegründen - private Leibwächter angestellt. Den aufsehenerregendsten Fall von Schwerverbrechen, die Leibwächter im Dienst eines Prominenten begingen, bildet der vorsätzliche Totschlag von Poros Porosjan, einem aus Dschawachk stammenden Armenier georgischer Staatsbürgerschaft und aktives Mitglied der Partei Daschnakzutjun; er soll in der Nacht des 24. September 2001 in dem von Daschnaken gern frequentierten Jerewaner Jazzclub "Aragast" in betrunkenem Zustand Präsident Robert Kotscharjan familiär angesprochen und dabei auf dessen angeblich aserbeidschanischen Vater angespielt haben. Nachdem Kotscharjan das Lokal bereits verlassen hatte, kehrten die Leibwächter zurück und erschlugen den wehrlosen Porosjan in der Toilette des Restaurants, ohne dass sich im Restaurant anwesende Polizeibeamte einmischten. Präsident Kotscharjan entliess seine Leibwächter umgehend bis zum Abschluss der Ermittlungen. Am 7. Oktober 2001 teilte Generalstaatsanwalt Aram Tamasjan an Hand seiner Untersuchungen mit, dass Porosjan gefoltert wurde und an seinen Misshandlungen starb. Es wurde jedoch nur gegen einen der Leibwächter, Agamal Harutjunjan, ein Verfahren wegen unabsichtlicher Tötung (§ 103 StGB) eröffnet. Am 21. Februar 2002 verurteilte das Gericht des Jerewaner Stadtteils Nor Marasch dafür zu einer Haftstrafe von zwei Jahren auf Bewährung."

Document(s): Open document