For Immediate Release
Conscientious objection—key issue in trial of Jehovah's Witness YEREVAN, Armenia—Conscientious objection to military service on religious grounds has become the key issue and the focus of public television reports in the trial of Lyova Margaryan, which resumed today in the Armavir regional court. Hundreds of fellow Jehovah's Witnesses crowded the courtroom in support of the 50-year-old father of three who is being prosecuted for his religious activity. The trial was adjourned on July 20 when five prosecution witnesses failed to appear. Only one turned up to give evidence today. The prosecutor and the defense asked the court to hear testimony from additional witnesses, including a request from the prosecutor for the mayor of Metsamor to give evidence. The case was adjourned until August 10. Today Vardan Garibyan, 18, testified that he associated with Jehovah's Witnesses for three years, stating: "No one made me attend meetings. I went because at the time I was interested." He also denied being dissuaded from joining the army. Margaryan is being accused under Article 244 of the Armenian Constitution of "luring young people into attending religious meetings of an unregistered religion" and "influencing members not to serve in the army." If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison. On August 1, Armenian national television reported in its nightly news program "ASV" that this case highlights a contradiction in the Armenian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience but also demands that each citizen perform military service. Armenia had agreed that within three years of its accession to the Council of Europe it would adopt a law on alternatives to military service and that in the meantime it would release those in detention. The Armenian government is making positive moves in that direction. Thirty-one male Jehovah's Witnesses have been pardoned and were released from places of detention on the basis of a Presidential amnesty in connection with Armenia's 1,700-year anniversary of the Armenian Apostolic Church. However, eight remain in prison in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Five others who were released after serving part of their sentence are still under arrest. They were allowed to live at home provided they regularly report to the local police. During the past month, eight Jehovah's Witnesses were arrested and are in prison awaiting trial for refusing military service on religious grounds even though they are willing to perform alternative civilian service. Contact numbers in Armenia,
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