Print this pageFor Immediate Release
April 11, 2007
Resolution affirms that conscientious objectors should be pardoned in Armenia
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed a resolution that reaffirms the need for Armenia to comply with its commitments. Of particular interest to 68 imprisoned young men is the part of the resolution designed to protect the rights of those whose consciences will not allow them to participate in military service. The resolution confirms what Armenia has long ago agreed to and is still bound to uphold, namely their responsibility to release the young men imprisoned for conscientious objection, and to enact a genuine alternative civilian service.
The timing of the PACE resolution, passed on January 23, 2007, is significant since some prosecutors within Armenia have continued, even recently, to press for increasing the length of sentences for the young men who refuse military service, whereas Article 6.7 of the resolution clearly shows the need to go in a progressive direction:
6.7. As regards Armenia’s commitment to adopt a law on alternative service “in compliance with European standards” and “pardon all conscientious objectors sentenced to prison terms”, the Assembly is disappointed to note that the current law, as amended in 2005 and subsequently in June 2006, still does not offer conscientious objectors any guarantee of “genuine alternative service of a clearly civilian nature, which should be neither deterrent nor punitive in character”, as provided for by Council of Europe standards. It is deeply concerned that, for lack of a genuine form of civilian service, dozens of conscientious objectors, most of whom are Jehovah’s Witnesses, continue to be imprisoned, since they prefer prison to an alternative service not of a truly civilian nature. The Assembly urges the Armenian authorities to revise the law on alternative service in accordance with the recommendations made by the Council of Europe experts currently studying this issue and, in the meantime, to pardon the young conscientious objectors currently serving prison sentences.
The majority of young men who are imprisoned for conscientious objection in Armenia are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Worldwide, the Witnesses are known for their emphasis on Jesus’ teaching to “love your neighbor.” (Matthew 22:39) Thus they have a reputation of being peaceful and law-abiding, with nonviolence as their code of conduct.
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600