A shocking new report from Amnesty International published today reveals an alarming culture of persecution in Armenia against both critics of the ruling regime and the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) community.
The 20-page report, Armenia: No space for difference, exposes the harassment and intimidation suffered by civil society activists and journalists who question the mainstream view of the country’s conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The report also reveals discrimination and attacks on LGBTI activists and people, and the unwillingness of the authorities to protect them.
In 2011, a survey by the Armenian human rights group, Public Information and Need for Knowledge, found 71.5% believed the state should take measures to fight against homosexuals. Since then posters have appeared across the city of Yerevan calling for citizens to “fight against homosexuality” and claiming “homosexuals are leading our country to destruction”. The views have been echoed by Armenia’s ruling Republican Party and Parliament’s Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov.
Through national and international obligations the Armenian authorities have committed to ensure that activists can carry out their work without interference, obstacles, discrimination or fear of retaliation.
Amnesty International’s researcher on Armenia, Natalia Nozadze, said:
“This contrasts starkly with the reality in Armenia – public officials condone violence against those with dissenting opinions. The targets of such attacks are often left without adequate protection and offences against them go unpunished, which has a chilling effect on others.
“Frequently the result is that journalists and human rights defenders self-censor on contentious issues, which further contributes to the shrinking space for difference of opinion within Armenian society.
“The ability to exercise the right to freedom of expression, even when the views expressed may be deemed controversial, and the ability to gather and demonstrate peacefully are essential for the defence of human rights and for a functioning civil society.”
***
The Yerevan Press Club shares the indignation of Armenia's non-governmental organizations who disseminated a letter on October 23 condemning another refusal to host the screening of the film “Parada”. We consider the obstacles raised for such public events as a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression.
It has been only a year since we appreciated that the practice of refusing provision of premises for political motives has almost stopped. And today, the Armenian society faces yet a new, not less disgraceful challenge - an artificial restriction on disseminating information about issues of diversity and personal freedom.
After 20 years of gaining independence and proclaiming democratic development as the main path for nation building, the Armenian state is still unable to ensure the protection of its’ citizens’ rights from intolerance and xenophobia. The “fearfulness” of the management of the halls, which refuse the film screening, can be explained by nothing less than this. In this regard, one should remember the inaction of law enforcement bodies towards the attacks against the “Asparez” Journalists' Club of Gyumri and the Vanadzor Branch of Helsinki Citizen's Assembly, who in April 2012 provided their halls for showing films, “disliked” by some people.
It is inadmissible for the authorities, who strive for European standards of constituting the state and public life, to pander to those persons and groups, who assume the right to ban, threat, exercise violence and who dictate their own visions of what others should and should not do.
Below is a statement of NGOs (AM, via PINK Armenia):
Հասարակական կազմակերպությունները հանդես են եկել համատեղ հայտարարությամբ` ուղղված ՀՀ վարչապետ Տիգրան Սարգսյանին, Հայաստանում ԵՄ պատվիրակության ղեկավար Տրայան Հրիսթեային, Հայաստանում Գերմանիայի Դաշնային Հանրապետության արտակարգ և լիազոր դեսպան Ռայներ Մորելին: Անհանգստության առիթ է հանդիպսացել սերբական «Պառադա» ֆիլմի ցուցադրման խափանումը:
Հայտարարություն
Արդեն իսկ երրորդ վայրը ևս` Կոնգրես հյուրանոցը, հանրությանը անհայտ ճնշումների արդյունքում պաշտոնապես հրաժարվեց հյուրընկալել «Պառադա» ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը, որը վերաբերում է Սերբիայում ԼԳԲՏ (լեսբուհի, գեյ, բիսեքսուալ, տրանսգենդեր) անձանց իրավունքների հիմնախնդիրներին: Այս ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը հանդիսանում է Հայաստանում Եվրոպական Միության պատվիրակության և Գերմանիայի դեսպանության նախաձեռնությունը: Ֆիլմի ցուցադրությունը մասն է կազմում այն միջոցառումների, որոնք Եվրամիությունն անցկացնում է 2012թ. Մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանության օրվա շրջանակներում՝ հանդուրժողականության և ոչ խտրական վերաբերմունքի թեմայով:
Ցանկացած ժողովրդավարական, սոցիալական, իրավական պետություն մարդու իրավունքների նման ոտնահարումը, մասնավորապես արտահայտման ազատության իրավունքի ոտնահարումը, որը ներառում է անկախ պետական սահմաններից ցանկացած միջոցով տեղեկություններ և գաղափարներ փնտրելու, ստանալու, տարածելու ազատությունը, պետք է համարի անթույլատրելի: Սա հստակ սահմանված է ՀՀ Սահմանադրությամբ և ավելի ընդգծված մի շարք միջազգային փաստաթղթերում՝ համաձայն որոնց ՀՀ-ն ունի մի շարք պարտավորություններ պաշտպանելու յուրաքանչյուր անձի հիմնարար իրավունքներն ու ազատությունները, ինչպես նաև ունի պոզիտիվ պարտավորություն՝ ապահովելու այդ իրավունքների արդյունավետ իրականացումը: ՀՀ-ն Եվրոպական հարևանության քաղաքականության շրջանակներում ստանձնել է պարտավորություններ ամրապնդելու մարդու իրավունքների և հիմնարար ազատությունների նկատմամբ հարգանքը, որոնք հանդիսանում են ՀՀ-ԵՄ համագործակցության հիմնարար սկզբուքները: Ավելին, սույն բարեփոխումների իրականացման համար ՀՀ կառավարությունը ԵՄ կողմից ստանում է համապատասխան աջակցություն, այդ թվում ֆինանսական:
Մենք` քաղաքացիական հասարակության ներկայացուցիչներս, անհանգստացած և վրդովված ենք ՀՀ-ում մարդու իրավունքների ոտնահարումներով, խտրականության և անհանդուրժողականության տարածմամբ: Մենք պահանջում ենք, որպեսզի ՀՀ կառավարությունը ստանձնի իր պարտավորությունները և երաշխավորի սույն միջոցառման իրականացումը և դրա անվտանգությունը, համապատասխան դահլիճ տրամադրի ֆիլմի հանրային ցուցադրության, և հանդիսատեսի անխոչընդոտ դիտման համար:
Մենք գտնում ենք, որ ՀՀ իշխանության կողմից ձեռնարկած քայլերը կամ անգործությունը ԵՄ համար պետք է հանդիսանա ցուցանիշ, թե որքանով են իր տրամադրած աջակցությունը և միջոցները ուղղորդվում ՀՀ-ում մարդու իրավունքների իրավիճակի բարելավմանը: ԵՄ-ն պետք է հետամուտ լինի իր իսկ տրամադրած միջոցների նպատակային բաշխմանը և ՀՀ կողմից հանձն առած պարտավորությունների կատարմանը, որոնք բխում են Եվրոպական հարևանության քաղաքականության հիման վրա որդեգրած ԵՄ-Հայաստան փոխադարձ հանձնառությունից` ապահովելու ժողովրդավարություն և մարդու իրավունքների պաշտպանվածություն, օրենքի գերակայություն և համընդհանուր այլ արժեքներ:
Ստորագրողներ`
Հանրային տեղեկատվություն և գիտելիքի կարիք ՀԿ
Կանանց ռեսուրսային կենտրոն ՀԿ
Հելսինկյան ասոցիացիա ՀԿ
Սեռական բռնության ճգնաժամային կենտրոն ՀԿ
Կանանց աջակցության կենտրոն ՀԿ
Իրավունքի գերակայություն ՀԿ
Հելսինկյան քաղաքացիական ասամբլեայի Վանաձորի գրասենյակ ՀԿ
Լրագրողներ հանուն մարդու իրավունքների ՀԿ
Երիտասարդները հանուն ժողովրդավարության ՀԿ
Բաց հասարակության հիմնադրամններ-Հայաստան
Ժուռնալիստների «Ասպարեզ» ակումբ ՀԿ
Շիրակ կենտրոն ՀԿ
Նոր Սերունդ ՀԿ
Երաշխիք քաղաքացիական հասարակության կենտրոն ՀԿ
Շահխաթուն ՀԿ
Իրական աշխարհ, իրական մարդիկ ՀԿ
Թրանսփարենսի ինթերնեշնլ հակակոռուպցիոն կենտրոն ՀԿ
Հայաստանի հելսինկյան կոմիտե ՀԿ
Դեմոկրատիան այսօր ՀԿ
Էկոլուր տեղեկատվական ՀԿ
Հույս ՀԿ
Գորիսի մամուլի ակումբ ՀԿ
Քաղաքացիական ազգային նախաձեռնություն ՀԿ
Համագործակցություն հանուն զարգացման ՀԿ
Իրավունքների պաշտպանություն առանց սահմանների ՀԿ
Համագործակցություն հանուն ժողովրդավարության ՀԿ
Խոսքի ազատության պաշտպանության կոմիտե ՀԿ
I am glad to see that independent A1+ TV’s flagship news programme is back on air (on its rival ArmNews!). Since its (decade-long) closure, I keep saying that until A1+ is back I won’t believe that things are changing in Armenia.
I know that homophobic editor of Aravot daily Aram Abrahamyan (Armenia Homophobia Hall of Shame) has been part of A1+ in past and present (online). Now, with the revival of news programme, it’s disappointing to see that the editor who advocates homophobia is part of the project too.
I wrote about A1+ in one of my very first posts after I launched Unzipped blog:
"(for years) They tried to ban A1+ TV, they sort of succeeded, but they was not able to ban A1+, for me - the symbol of free speech in Armenia. A1+ continued its live online. [...] If one day I switch on TV and see A1+ station live, I will understand that I probably live in different Armenia, in better Armenia, in Armenia which can be transformed to a country where I would prefer live in..."
Well, not quite a transformation yet. A small progress - probably.
As long as Aram Abrahamyan is part of the project, these changes will remain illusive for me.
UN News Centre: 18 June 2010 – Armenian authorities must take steps to protect human rights defenders, who are often physically attacked, harassed or stigmatized as they try to carry out their work in the Caucasus nation, an independent United Nations expert said today. [...]
Human rights defenders and civil society groups should be consulted and included in decision-making processes, Ms. Sekaggya said, adding the specific needs of women defenders and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender defenders must also be addressed. [...]
***
For more details - see Unzipped
Dramatic developments in Tbilisi escalated over night into a fistfight between religious fundamentalists & neo-nazi groups and free speech advocates.
Below are extracts of reports coming out from Georgia with videos of the incident.
*** Fundamentalists start punch up at TV station Georgian International Media Centre
A debate between supporters of free speech and religious fundamentalists seeking to ban the publication of a controversial book - said to insult the church and promote homosexuality - degenerated into a punch up after the fundamentalists turned to violence, reports Civil.ge. [see below]
Controversy over the book "Saidumlo Siroba" - the name is a play on the Georgian for "Last Supper" and could be translated as "Holy Crap" - has been rumbling on at Tbilisi State Univeristy all week and last night Kavkasia TV, a cable station in Tbilisi known for its willingness to discuss controversial issues around the church, attempted to hold a discussion between advocates of the book's banning and free speech campaigners and university staff. [...]
*** Radical Orthodox Christian Group Stirs Fistfight in TV Station Civil Georgia, Tbilisi / 8 May.'10 / 03:56
Live televised debates in Kavkasia TV's studio between leaders of hardline Orthodox Christian groups and thier opponents grew into a fistfight outside the Tbilisi-based station's studio late on Friday night.
Young men affiliated with radical group, known as Union of Orthodox Christian Parents, which has became associated with a newly established People's Orthodox Christian Movement, verbally and physically assaulted some of Kavkasia TV program's guests and also some members of the station's staff, witnesses said.
Kavkasia TV's talk show, Barieri (Barrier), hosted by Nino Jangirashvili, featured several invited guests and an audience in in the studio. Among the guests were Malkhaz Gulashvili, owner of the Georgian Times media holding and a co-founder of People's Orthodox Christian Movement; Nana Devdariani, a former public defender and chairperson of Central Election Commission during Eduard Shevardnadze's presidency and Levan Chachua, a member of Union of Orthodox Christian Parents. Thier opponents during the debates were professor Sergo Ratiani, head of Ilia State University's administration; Teo Khatiashvili, a film critic and Beka Mindiashvili, a religious rights activist.
Topic of the debate was developments of recent days related to series of confrontations between young followers of radical Orthodox groups and thier critics, who consider newly established People's Orthodox Christian Movement as "a fascist" organization. May 7 also saw a confrontation between the two groups.
In the beginning of the program, the host expressed hope that the debates would have been "vibrant, but much calmer and more constructive than they have been in recent days."
But from the very start debates took an ugly turn. Gulashvili told the opponents for couple of times: "Your are not liberals; you are liberasts."
He used a term which apparantly is a wordplay of liberals and pederasts; the latter is used in Georgia as a derogative form for gays.
Beka Mindiashvili told Gulashvili that it was up to police to deal with the activists of his organization, because of the May 4 attack on peaceful demonstrators.
About an hour after the start of the program, Beka Mindiashvili said there was no reason to continue discussion with his opponents and left the studio, followed by Teo Khatiashvili and then by Sergo Ratiani.
Shortly after that the program was interrupted for a commercial break; it resumed about 20 minutes later - much longer than it takes for commercial break on Kavkasia TV.
When the program resumed, the host announced that after several guest of the program left the studio, before the commercial break, representatives of Union of Orthodox Christian Parents, outside the studio, started to verbally insult them, "trying to provoke them". She said it grew into fistfight in which several TV staff members were also physically assaulted. Kavkasia TV's founder, Davit Akubardia, was also attacked.
Scuffle reoccurred again shortly after that announcement by the talk show host and she called on the police "to immediately come and curb this". Several minutes later, several members from Union of Orthodox Christian Parents, including several priest, entered into the studio telling the program host that it was "a provocation staged by you". Police also arrived in the studio . It was reported later that at least three men were arrested; some reports said that four men were detained.
The program resumed few minutes later with some opposition politicians arriving in the Kavkasia TV studio condemning the incident. General Director of Georgian Public Broadcaster, Gia Chanturia, accompanied by GPB's boar chairman Levan Gakheladze also arrived "to express solidarity" towards the Kavkasia TV.
Some opposition politicians in the studio, including Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party, part of the Alliance for Georgia, said that she thought the hardline Orthodox Christian groups were given free hand by the authorities.
"They would not have dared to do things like this without having support of the authorities," Khidasheli said and added that it was in the authorities interests to provoke this kind of incidents in order to redirect attention from upcoming local elections.
Malkhaz Gulashvili, who founded People's Orthodox Christian Movement, in March, 2010, told the movement members at an indoor gathering on May 7, that the movement was launching struggle "to set Georgia free of a dictate by Liberty Institute" - an influential Tbilisi-based think tank with links to the authorities. Gulashvili said Liberty Institute and its affiliates in Ilia State University's administration were "promoting anti-religious ideology."
Gulashvili in the past was a business partner with the Georgian Industrial Group (GIG), a conglomerate owned by lawmaker from the ruling party, Davit Bezhuashvili - a brother of Gela Bezhuashvili, chief of the Georgian intelligence service. Gulashvili and GIG were partners through holding shares in business news agency, Georgian Business Consulting. GIG also owns shares in Rustavi 2; Mze and Pirveli Sterao TV stations. Gulashvili, however, said recently that he no longer had any business or other type of links with Bezhuashvili.
***
Noted Georgian dissidents Anna Dolidze and Irakli Kakabadze have issued a strongly worded statement against those seeking to ban the controversial book "Saidumlo Siroba" ('Holy Crap')
Members of neo-Nazi groups who continue to publicly perpetrate acts of violence and attacks against activists for freedom of expression should be swiftly brought to justice. The fact that the Georgian police and Prosecutor’s Office put a blind eye as Georgian neo-Nazi groups continue to attack and harass journalists and activists amounts to their support to increased violence perpetrated by these groups. [...]
I recommend reading this roundup of selected blog posts from the South Caucasus related to societal attitudes to sex, gender, sexuality...
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, hopes that new freedoms would quickly replace the old have often been dashed by the re-emergence of patriarchal, conservative and traditional practices. Largely kept suppressed by the communist system, and exaggerated by the exodus of many who might have formed the middle classes during the economic collapse of the 1990s, gender and issues of sexuality were particularly affected.
True, homosexuality has been decriminalized, although homophobia remains a significant problem, and new freedoms might have “liberated” a minority of citizens in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, but sexuality remains a contentious issue for society as a whole. [...]
Reporters Without Bordersmarks one year anniversary of blocking the access to YouTube in Turkey.
Reporters Without Borders condemns the fact the video-sharing website YouTube has been inaccessible in Turkey for the past 12 months. Access has not been restored since it was blocked exactly one year ago today as a result of three orders issued by Ankara magistrate courts without any specific reason being given.
"The clip believed to have originally sparked the YouTube controversy in 2007 was a parody news broadcast by Greek football fans taunting their Turkish rivals by declaring "Today's news; Kemal Ataturk was gay!"
Turkish law lets prosecutors seek a court-ordered shutdown of any website deemed liable to incite suicide, paedophilia, drug usage, obscenity, prostitution, or attacking the memory of the republic's founding father.
Critics note the law opens the door to many abuses — such as letting a couple soccer fans effectively shut down an entire country's access to the world's most popular video-sharing website.
After the offending video was taken down by Google and YouTube users, Turkish prosecutors objected to dozens of other videos allegedly insulting Ataturk or other Turkish sensibilities. The latest barring was the result of three Ankara magistrate court orders on the grounds that Google hadn't obtained a license from the Turkish authorities."
The Register then goes on by listing countries which have barred YouTube, mentioning Armenia too: "Turkey is just one of several countries to have barred YouTube, including China, Armenia, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Saudia Arabia, and Syria."
I have to clarify here that the Armenian authorities have blocked the access to YouTube, along with some other websites, for a short period of few days only during the declared state of emergency following last year falsified presidential election. Before that and since then there have been no other incidents of Internet censorship in Armenia.
Thousands of Iranians choose to celebrate Novruz in Armenia. Referring to the Public Radio of Armenia, Huliqsays that "close to 20,000 vacationers from neighboring Iran have traveled to Armenia to celebrate Novruz, the Iranian New Year in Armenia due to liberties, affordability and warm weather."
The young people from Iran travel to Armenia with large groups to be able to celebrate Novruz while they can attend Yerevan's numerous nightclubs and can drink in public. Whereas in Iran you can only drink inside your house and there is no such a thing as public drinking.
The reporter of the Armenia radio interviewed a young lady who is staying in front of Yerevan hotel saying "look I can have my beer here and don't have to carry a scarf, which is an obligation in Iran." [...]
"We went to night clubs, danced and were able to have good time with our friends. Yerevan is near to Iran, full of good people and provides good opportunities for fun and celebration," says 25 years old Amir from Iran while shopping in Yerevan and who thinks the traditions are too strict in his country Iran.
As the report pointed out further, "It is estimated that an average vacationer spends $1000 U.S. dollars in Armenia per week, which includes most of the expenses, including hotel and meal. Therefore, 20,000 Iranian tourists leaving $20 Million dollars in the Armenian economy is a good investment in the country of 3.5 million people."
As far as I know from various sources, for the same reasons many Azeris tend to spend their Novruz holiday in Georgia.
Here is the morale of this story. Under current economic conditions, focus on tourism should become one of the priorities. And as this report suggests, more social liberties will attract more tourists, and subsequently more money to Armenian state budget and local businesses. Even if for practical reasons, it's time to think of pink pound (or euro/dollar, if you wish).
Blog.teentv.ge is a teenagers’ TV programme (in Georgian) transmitted via Internet. They focus on alternative subcultures and try to fill in that gap through their programming.
Teen TV was initially broadcasted on Public TV. Once they prepared a plot about how several priests came to the Halloween celebration (it was sponsored by a city hall; and they closed one pedestrian street when they encountered a clergy violent protest - the DJ was beaten up by priest). However, this did not get aired, and in protest they left the public channel. Teen TV will soon be hosted by Rustavi 2, a leading (private) channel. Till then, it is only available via blogging which is reportedly very popular.
Their most recent programme was devoted to Georgian LGBT magazine - Me. Below is a video which includes interviews with the editors of the magazine and passer-bys (in Georgian). Also - a brief summary transcript in English. (Many thanks to Paata for translation and the info provided!)
"One can find a large number of publications in press booths. However, the vast majority of these are addressed to the same type of readership (mainstream). Where can one find an alternative read? The choice is not that diverse. After viewing our story one may ask a question: why would WE cover the issue? Yet we think that this topic is equally interesting to EVERYONE."
In this TV report, co-editors of the Me magazine Eka and Paata speak of the motivation behind the publication and its aims. They mention that Me magazine is the first attempt to assemble a publication about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in Georgia. [in fact, in the whole South Caucasus] The idea of it came early in 2006, slightly ahead of the registration of the organization – Inclusive Foundation, LGBT NGO in Georgia. It aims not only at LGBT community, but also a wider society. Incompetent media spreading misinformation and widespread homophobia were all behind the motivation to start this publication to address information needs and increase awareness of the population. Since then there have been increased attention and discussions in Georgia of this previously tabooed topic (with active involvement of the church). Magazine is distributed free of charge.
Reporter then mentions that like with any other new, previously tabooed subject matters, the publication of the LGBT magazine is expected to be met negatively and critically by the public. But the very fact that this publication has seen the daylight and makes influences is a positive sign.
They also interviewed few passer-bys.
1st interviewee: No, I do not know about this publication. Reporter: would you read it? 1st interviewee: Yes, perhaps yes. I think would be interesting to.
2nd interviewee [in Russian]: No, I would not have an interest. And I think that this type of publications shall not be out, and especially youth shall not entertain themselves with it.
3rd interviewee: No, I haven’t heard of it. Reporter: Would you read it? 3rd interviewee: No, I doubt it, because this issue is of no concern to me.
4th interviewee: No I have not encountered this publication. Reporter: What is your opinion? 4th interviewee: Hmm, I don’t know… I think that it is nothing to welcome really, in my opinion… Reporter: Would you read it though? 4th interviewee: No, I would not be interested in reading it.
5th interviewee: No, have not heard of it. Reporter: Would you be interested to read it? 5th interviewee: mm, if I would find a particular article interesting, of course, I would read it, yes.
The best show of the evening during the national selection for Eurovision 2009 in Armenia came from the most original, scandalous, always unique Shprot. She is a kind of singer who I’d always prefer to watch, instead of listening to via my ipod or cd. Her voice is not her strongest feature. But her performance, her shows became the most talked about in Yerevan. Her last show was not an exception. It was the first of its kind in Armenia. Everyone whom I discussed with the national Eurovision selection on Public TV of Armenia mentioned Shprot’s performance as something which stands out. Not her voice or song per se, but performance (!).
Watch Shprot’s gender bending, Victor/Victoria style, ‘half man / half woman’ performance (along with her dancers) below. You won’t regret it.
One of her most popular recent songs is Positive with Aram MP3.
I would highly recommend watching her song Be Free (see below). It contains so much needed message to Armenians to be free, to liberate themselves, to quit being scared of desires and dreams.
As one of the comments to the video states: “Her song is about being free regardless of who you are, your gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, etc...whatever you are don't be afraid of it but rather embrace it that's her message..”
I propose this song as a hymn to sexual and social liberation in Armenia. Well, until someone else propose the better one.
According to Russian and Belarusian gay sites, newly elected Russian Patriarch Kirill is known for his extreme homophobic views and socially conservative agenda. He called “tolerance towards gays” a “non-Russian tradition”, and compared “freedom of sex” to “freedom to kill”.
Not that it is surprising to see such people in churches, but Kirill is known for his intensive propaganda of hateful and far right religious messages using all modern IT means, state agencies, TV, and even at schools. He is a staunch advocate of studying “the basics of orthodox culture” as part of school curriculum. He has very strong influence on Russia’s state leaders. Reportedly he is a former KGB agent. Allegedly, during 90s he was involved in cigarette and vodka business as well as export of diamonds from Russia.
He advocates defining human rights on the basis of certain "moral precepts". In 2006, he also said that “the execution of any law inconsistent with Christian precepts, is not compulsory for Christians."
As if Russia did not go far enough down towards nationalism, intolerance and deterioration of human rights, now many fear that it will be promoted with even more intensity.
Prominent Armenian human rights activist Mikael Danielyan was presented with the Defender of Freedom award during the reception at the U.S. Embassy in Armenia devoted to the Martin Luther King Day.
«As a founder and head of the Armenian Helsinki Association, Danielyan fought for the rights of prisoners, conscripts and minorities», - said US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
Present during the ceremony were leaders of political parties, foreign diplomats accredited in Armenia, the Ombudsman of Armenia, as well as representatives of NGOs.
Last year Mikael Danielyan was attacked in downtown Yerevan by former leader of "Armenian Progressive Party" Tigran Urikhanyan who accused Danielyan in destabilising the country and defending gay rights. (for details - 1; 2; 3)
Well deserved award. My congratulations to Mikael Danielyan!!
Unsurprisingly, pro-government tabloid-style newspaper Hayots Ashkharhcriticized the nomination of Mikael Danielian for the Defender of Freedom award: “In order to stay in the centre of attention of humanity after the inauguration of Barack Omaba, Americans have taken a second step; they give an Defender of Freedom award to ‘human rights activist’ Mikael Danielian.”
The law firm of Muhittin Yuzuak says Friday that their client, singer Bulent Ersoy, was acquitted during a hearing Thursday on grounds of freedom of speech. Ersoy is one of Turkey’s best-loved singers.
Ersoy has acknowledged saying on television that if she had children she would not want them to join the army to battle Kurdish rebels who are fighting for self-rule. The European Union, which Turkey wants to join, is pressing the nation to do away with laws that stifle free expression.
Under EU pressure, Turkey amended a law in April that barred the denigration of Turkish identity and institutions. But human rights groups say the changes did not go far enough.
Famous transsexual singer Bülent Ersoy is acquitted of the accusation of “alienating people from military service”, which she faced for her words during a TV show that if she had a son she would not send him to the war with the PKK in the east.
Turkey's Supreme Court on Nov. 27 overturned a decision to dissolve the gay group Lambda Istanbul.
A lower court had agreed with city officials who claimed the organization was unlawful, immoral and against family values.
“Finally, justice has arrived,” Lambda said in an English-language statement. “We are stronger now with the overturn of the decision to close down Lambda Istanbul LGBTT Solidarity Association. As people who face violence, who get expelled from our jobs, who are excluded and isolated, who are denied their legal rights, our voices will now multiply; and as the LGBTT movement we will be louder when we shout out our right to equality.”
“Decisions influenced by prejudices will remain inevitable, and inequality, discrimination and intense human rights violations will prevail as long as ‘sexual orientation' and ‘gender identity' are not added to the equality clause of the constitution,” the group said.
Lambda has been in existence since 1993 and has been officially registered for two years. The group continued to operate during the appeals process.
The registration of the Turkish Armenian Business Development Council was rejected by the Governorate of Istanbul, without clear legal grounds. Following a case brought by the Istanbul Governorate, an Istanbul court decided in May to close down a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual (LGBTT) association. The Istanbul Governorate is accusing Amnesty International (AI) of illegal money collection. The competent Istanbul Administrative Court heard the case and decided in favor of AI. The Governor has appealed the case before the Council of State.
In an atmosphere where Turkey is being criticized for the slow pace of its EU reforms, the country refuses to sign a declaration calling all states to take steps to stop the criminalization of homosexuality, contradicting its commitments to the EU in promoting human rights. […]
"It’s very frustrating for Turks who wish the state to become a member of the EU. Turkey’s position with regard to this issue is more important than Cyprus to us," an EU ambassador told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review after it became clear that Ankara declined to join the 27 EU countries who endorsed the groundbreaking initiative. […]
"Turkey is the only country among the candidate members of the EU that refused to sign the declaration," said Barış Sulu, head of Ankara-based Pembe Hayat, one of the leading Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, association. "We want the government to protect and encourage everyone to protect human rights for everyone without discriminating the sexual identity or sexual tendencies," Sulu added.
Homosexuality is not a crime according to Turkish laws. However, "we are not defined in the Turkish constitution’s prohibition of discrimination or the social and civil rights," said Ozan Gezmiş, an activist from the MorEl Eskişehir LGBT group. "We are ignored and ignorance is the utmost violence," Gezmiş said.
"Turkey should vote for human rights on this issue, if it regards itself as a European country. But, we all know this is Turkey’s contradiction, where it tries to be European while on the other hand, acting parallel to Islam countries," Pelin Kalkan said, speaking on behalf of Ankara-based Kaos GL, another leading Turkish LGBT organization.
Tarık Günersel, President of PEN Turkey, called upon the government and the public to take action to respect the rights of the homosexuals.
Reminding that 64 countries signed the decision to end making homosexualism a crime at the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Günersel said, “The rights of the homosexuals are a part of the human rights that cannot be ignored.”
Sayin “The Turkish government must realize, accept and confirm this fact”, the President of the PEN Turkey said, “It is much better to be the 65th than the 165th.”
"Every summer many Armenians living abroad in diasporas are coming home to experience their sacred ancient land; the local tourism caters mainly for them. However Armenia is also a space of…. freedom for quite different group of people. The young visual artists from Iran that borders Armenia in the south are coming here to study, create and show representational/figurative art that is forbidden in the Muslim fundamentalist society. The picturesque mountain lake Sevan – an Armenian natural treasure – is also a holiday destination for Iranian gay couples imprisoned and persecuted in their own country. The lake surrounded by mystical medieval monasteries cools the heat of this volatile yet promising region."
Pawel Leszkowicz is a curator and lecturer/writer from Poland ,specialising in contemporary art/visual culture and sexuality/queer studies. He curated the exhibition of contemporary queer art "Love and Democracy" (2005/2006) and wrote with his partner Tomek Kitlinski the book "Love and Democracy. He intends to develop an international perspective and contacts in this field, particularly in Eastern Europe. In Poland he teaches at the Department of Art History at the University and the Department of Intermedia at the Fine Arts Academy.
I do not think that shutting down blogging – temporarily fake self-banning - as a form of protest would have any effect. Quite the contrary, those who behind Internet censorship in Turkey would be pretty pleased with this and would prefer this fake self-ban become permanent. Anyway, here is what TechChrunch reported on the matter: “Web Censorship Is So Bad in Turkey That Blogs Are Shutting Themselves Down In Protest”. Nearly 200 Turkish blogs signed up for the protest which will last till Wednesday. "The point is to show Turkish Web surfers what the Internet would look like if the censorship continues unabated."
It doesn’t take much to get your Website banned in Turkey. Pretty much any complaint to a lower court can get a Website blocked in the country. Websites including YouTube, DailyMotion, Alibaba, Slide.com, and some Wordpress blogs have all been banned, usually because of some purported slight to the Turkish government or Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. (The Youtube ban was the result of a sophomoric video claiming Ataturk was gay).
The problem has gotten so bad that Turkish blogs are now banning themselves in protest. The fake bans started with Firat Yildiz, who put this message up on his blog:
Bu siteye erişim kendi kararıyla engellenmiştir
which roughly translates to:
The access to this web site is prevented by its owner’s free will.
Azeri opposition journalist Agil Khalil’s saga continues. EurasiaNet reports that after several unsuccessful attempts, he eventually fled to France on 24 July to meet leading international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. No particular reasons of his departure were specified, although it was apparently connected with the recent attacks. He, nevertheless, pledges to return to Azerbaijan.
Prosecutors never investigated Khalil's beating, but on July 15 a man presented as the reporter's alleged former lover was sentenced to a year-and-a-half prison term for the stabbing. [For details, see the Eurasia Insight archive.] Local and international watchdog groups believe that the charge was aimed at discrediting Khalil in Azerbaijan's homophobic society. […]
"Even though I was persecuted in my country, even though I was a target for pressure, even though they did not punish the people who stabbed and beat me, even though it is not safe for me to be in Azerbaijan, I will not stay here," he said. "I miss my country and I will go back when I finish my business here."
However, his attempt to fly to Paris was marred by a scandalous incident. Witnesses report on a conflict between police and (airport) border guards as to whether allow the opposition journalist to leave the country. Reports say that while border staff was trying to prevent his travel under various ‘formal’ grounds, police disagreed. These reports were unsurprisingly denied by official representatives.
Speaking from Paris, Khalil said that on July 22 he had also tried to fly out of Baku for France, but had failed. "They kept me at the border for half an hour. Then they said 'You are on the list of wanted people,' and showed me some document. I could not convince them that there is something wrong with this information," Khalil said in a phone interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Khalil says that interior ministry bodyguards accompanying him blocked airport border guards from searching his belongings and arresting him. Police officers later arrived on the scene. "The border officers did not show the police officers the document about me being on a wanted list," he recounted. "The border officers and the [police] argued a little bit and then they allowed me to go home."
Intervention by United States and French embassy officials at last solved the problem two days later, Khalil said. "After this, the border service apologized. They said 'Now you can leave the country..."
Khalil, who has been shortlisted for an award from human rights watchdog Amnesty International, says that he does not plan to stay in France, however. […]
Local newspapers have speculated that the tussle over Khalil's departure indicates a conflict between law enforcement agencies on treatment of the media. […]
Khalil had earlier attempted to leave Azerbaijan by train, but was stopped at the border. Officials said that the reporter could not leave the country while the investigation into his stabbing was ongoing. Khalil's attorney, Elchin Sadigov, has countered that the law does not provide any basis for stopping crime victims from leaving Azerbaijan.
Aqil Xalil, a 25-year-old correspondent with "Azadliq," Azerbaijan's largest opposition daily, was hospitalized in March after being stabbed in the chest. "Azadliq" editors say the stabbing -- the second time Xalil had been attacked in less a month -- was tied to his work investigating corruption in major land deals in Baku.
Prosecutors opened an investigation into the stabbing after Xalil's case raised an outcry from Western officials and press-protection groups. But instead of tracking down the people responsible for the attack, Xalil tells RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, investigators have focused their efforts on blackmailing him into offering a false confession.
"They gave me three options," Xalil says. "I could say that I was stabbed by one of my colleagues, or I could say that I stabbed myself. Otherwise, they said they would produce a video saying that I had been attacked by a man who was in a homosexual relationship with me, and then air it on state TV. So they said if I didn't want to be embarrassed, I would have to choose from one of these options. I was shocked."
This was followed by a televised 'evidence' where a man identified as Sergei Strekalin said he stabbed Khalil in a jealous rage. Strekalin was sentenced on 15 July to one and a half years in prison.
European media watchdog calls Baku trial 'fake', aimed at discrediting opposition journalist using homophobic sentiment and protecting his real attackers.
VIENNA, 17 July 2008 - Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, condemned today the trial against Sergey Strekalin, who was sentenced on 15 July to one and a half years in prison for his self-confessed stabbing of journalist Agil Khalil of Azadliq newspaper in March 2008.
"This is the climax of a smear campaign orchestrated by law-enforcers against Khalil, his newspaper, and the remnants of critical journalism in Azerbaijan," said Haraszti.
Haraszti has observed the fate of young reporter Agil Khalil since he was beaten up by two top security officers in February 2008 while investigating illegal cutting of olive trees in a Baku public garden. Khalil was then followed, threatened, and on 13 March stabbed as he left the editorial office of Azadliq.
"I view the show trial against Strekalin as an attempt to protect the real stabbers," Haraszti said.
"To illustrate how far these allegations are, let me remind you, that after the prosecution stopped the case against the two officers who attacked Khalil in February, it waged a large-scale public campaign to discredit the journalist. To support their scenario, the prosecution ordered the major television channels to broadcast videos where Strekalin confessed to the stabbing of the journalist by posing as a jealous ex-lover," he said.
"The made-up charges against a self-confessing perpetrator are especially regrettable in a country that has overcome the era when prosecutors staged propaganda campaigns to discredit people critical of the government," said Haraszti.
In numerous addresses to the authorities of Azerbaijan, the Representative has criticised the harassment and slandering of journalists and asked for the release of imprisoned journalists.
The US State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor released its Advancing Freedom and Democracy Reports 2008 on 27 May which reflects recent presidential elections in Armenia as well as other democracy and human rights related issues in our country:
"Armenia is a constitutional republic with a popularly elected president and a unicameral legislature (National Assembly). The February 2008 presidential elections were significantly flawed. Problems included favorable treatment of the government's candidate, instances of ballot stuffing, vote-buying, multiple voting, voter intimidation, violence against opposition commission members and proxies, and suspiciously high turnout figures. On March 1, 2008, the government imposed a state of emergency and used force to disperse large crowds of protesters, restricting media freedoms and the right of assembly and arresting scores of protesters. The clashes between protesters and security services resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people. The state of emergency was lifted March 20, 2008, but restrictions on civil liberties remain in force due to a strict new law on public gatherings, pressure on opposition media, and continuing arrests and intimidation of government opponents. The government's human rights record remained poor. Citizens were not able to freely change their government; authorities beat pretrial detainees; the National Security Service and the national police force acted with impunity; authorities engaged in arbitrary arrest and detention; courts remained subject to political pressure from the executive branch; prison conditions were cramped and unhealthy, although slowly improving; and authorities imposed restrictions on citizens' privacy, freedom of press, and freedom of assembly. Journalists continued to practice self‑censorship, and the government and laws restricted religious freedom. Violence against women remained a problem, as well as trafficking in persons, discrimination against persons with disabilities, and societal harassment of homosexuals. There were reports of forced labor."
Onnik Krikorian, Caucasus editor at Global Voices Online, posted analysis on evolution of Armenian blogging which reached the point of “coming of age” following the recent political stand-off and media blackout in Armenia. Highly recommend it!
Only few months ago, practically no one in Armenia was aware of blogs or blogging, including media representatives. Now blogs/blogging/bloggers became the It topic with various reports in Armenian online and printed media, as well as radio, dedicated to them.
Future media professionals in Yerevan also turn their attention to blogging by writing their final thesis on blogging phenomenon.
“One blogger from Armenia now living and working in the United Kingdom had already set a precedent for blogs covering issues that were not reported elsewhere with his Unzipped: Gay Armenia site. The blogger applied the same level of professionalism, albeit in support of the former president, on his other blog, Unzipped.”
“The real violence… the violence that I realised was unforgivable is the violence that we do to ourselves, when we are too afraid to be who we really are.” #Sense8
Մարտիրոս Սարյան: "Իմ կարծիքով, մեզ՝ որպես արևելյան ժողովրդի, չափազանց կպատշաճեր բազմագույն դրոշը, որն ի հայտ է բերում ինքը` չքնաղ և հավերժ գեղեցիկ ծիածանը:"(source)
Posted: 22 August 2013 
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