Civic activists and opposition members in Armenia consider the proposed amendment to the constitutional article on freedom of assembly as an attempt by the authorities to abolish the notion of rallies “spontaneous”.
Unlike the current article of the constitution which clearly states that “everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, without arms”, some restrictions are proposed in the new amendments.
Thus, one of the changes called for “notification” of outdoor meetings “within reasonable time”.
Some eminent specialists in law of Armenia consider this provision as potentially “dangerous”.
Ara Ghazarian, a specialist in international law, believes that in this case the new Constitution does in fact leave no room for spontaneous gatherings.
“If passed in this form, in practice, the outdoor gatherings can be inferred that can not be held that the prior notification requirement, and that otherwise they may be unconstitutional,” a-t- he adds.
Sanasarian David, a leader of the civic group standing Armenia, currently campaigning against rising electricity prices, for its part considers that spontaneous meetings have created problems for Armenian authorities and they want s’ rid of it.
“They want to be informed in advance of these initiatives to visit citizens in their homes and create to create their problems,” he says.
Armen Martirosian, the opposition Heritage party, has also expressed concern about another article of the draft Constitution, which deals with freedom of assembly, in which the right may be limited not only in order to ensure national security , public order and crime prevention but also for “the protection of morals”.
“There is no ideal state in the world where the moral standards would also be constitutional standards because it is moral for me perhaps immoral for someone else, and vice versa,” he said.
The main criticism of the main opposition parties of Armenia regarding the draft constitutional amendments, which were unveiled by the reform committee earlier this month is that they attempt to “perpetuate” the power the current party affairs by the transformation of Armenia into a parliamentary republic.
The Heritage party, the Armenian National Congress and some other opposition parties insist that President Serzh Sargsyan, in which the current Armenian Constitution prohibited from seeking a third presidential term, would provide to ensure its continued leadership in another function after finishing his term in 2018.
Last year, Sargsyan promised not to seek a high responsibility position if the constitutional reform was carried out.
Ara © armenews.com