Armenia's Constitutional Court suspends some provisions of government's decision on martial law
20.11.2020,
19:40
Acting on a human rights defender's application, Armenia's Constitutional Court has suspended today the provisions of a government's decision on declaration of martial law, which restrict freedom of speech and expression during martial law.
YEREVAN, November 20. /ARKA/. Acting on a human rights defender's application, Armenia's Constitutional Court has suspended today the provisions of a government's decision on declaration of martial law, which restrict freedom of speech and expression during martial law. The news was announced by the human rights defender Arman Tatoyan in a Facebook post.
He specified that the provisions in question are about the bans, which did not allow criticizing the actions of state bodies or local self-government bodies, as well as officials, including their speeches, publications that may relate to ensuring the legal regime of martial law and state security.
"We note the importance of this decision of the Constitutional Court, which is not yet final. The Court suspended these provisions until the end of the judicial investigation of the case," the human rights defender said.
Tatoyan said that the constitutionality of these provisions will be discussed at a Court session on December 4 this year. It will also discuss the provisions of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which establish liability and penalties for violations of these restrictions.
The Armenian parliament will convene for an emergency session on November 26 to discuss the abolition of the martial law, declared after Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh.
On November 9, the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities in Artsakh. According to the document, the sides stopped at their positions; the town of Shushi, Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin regions pass over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of the 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged ($1 - 497.38 drams). -0-
He specified that the provisions in question are about the bans, which did not allow criticizing the actions of state bodies or local self-government bodies, as well as officials, including their speeches, publications that may relate to ensuring the legal regime of martial law and state security.
"We note the importance of this decision of the Constitutional Court, which is not yet final. The Court suspended these provisions until the end of the judicial investigation of the case," the human rights defender said.
Tatoyan said that the constitutionality of these provisions will be discussed at a Court session on December 4 this year. It will also discuss the provisions of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which establish liability and penalties for violations of these restrictions.
The Armenian parliament will convene for an emergency session on November 26 to discuss the abolition of the martial law, declared after Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh.
On November 9, the leaders of the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities in Artsakh. According to the document, the sides stopped at their positions; the town of Shushi, Agdam, Kelbajar and Lachin regions pass over to Azerbaijan, with the exception of the 5-kilometer corridor connecting Karabakh with Armenia.
A Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed along the contact line in Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor. Internally displaced persons and refugees are returning to Karabakh and adjacent regions, prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons and bodies of the dead are being exchanged ($1 - 497.38 drams). -0-
