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U.S. Department of State: â€œAllegations of persistent corruption at all levels of government undermined the rule of law in Armeniaâ€

28 February 2014 10:14 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that it is reflected in 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices prepared by the U.S. Department of State.

“Allegations of persistent corruption at all levels of government undermined the rule of law. Despite candidates’ ability to campaign freely, flaws in the conduct of the presidential election included a lack of impartiality by the public administration, the misuse of government resources to support the ruling party, credible allegations of vote buying, continued shortcomings in the implementation of the electoral code, and a complaints and appeals process that failed to provide for effective redress. Courts remained subjected to political pressure.

Other abuses reported during the year included suspicious deaths in the military under noncombat conditions, continued hazing and other mistreatment of conscripts by officers and fellow soldiers, and lack of accountability for such actions.

Police allegedly continued to employ torture to obtain confessions and reportedly beat citizens during arrest and interrogation. Many prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates. Authorities continued to arrest and detain criminal suspects without reasonable suspicion and to detain individuals arbitrarily.

Members of religious minorities suffered from societal discrimination,” says the report.