Armenia. Alleged arbitrary detention and harassment of members of the Jehovah's Witnesses community.

Communications report of special procedures*

Communications sent, 1 June 2011 to 30 November 2011
Replies received, 1 August 2011 to 31 January 2012

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According to the information received, members of the Jehovah's Witnesses community had been facing harassment, as well as the imprisonment of the following 72 Jehovah's Witnesses:
David Mnatsakanyan, Vigen Sargsyan, Vladimir Sargsyan, Gagik Toplakhaltsyan, Harutyun Gagyan, Gor Aslanyan, Ishkhan Grigoryan, Aram Apresyan, Kamo Sahakyan, Arkadi Mardoyan, Vanik Soghomonyan, Grigor Safaryan, Lyudvik Arshakyan, Raphael Manukyan, Karapet Aghadjanyan, Hakob Babudjyan, Artak Kroyan, Vahram Grigoryan, Gevork Sargsyan, Roman Minasyan, Andranik Martirosyan, Aghasi Sargsyan, Hayk Ghazaryan, Spartak Khanumyan, Levon Vardanyan, Vardan Vardanyan, Hovhannes Kasemyan, Taron Pirapyan, Artur Torosyan, Karapet Sargsyan, Samvel Prutyan, Ashot Khachikyan, David Martirosyan, Arayik Nahapetyan, Zorayr Arakelyan, Narek Seyranyan, Levon Tumanyan, Rafael Khalatov, Narek Chinaryan, Narek Pogosyan, Suren Tonoyan, David Khlghatyan, Andranik Bagiryan, Edouard Ohandjanyan, Levon Avakyan, Alik Davtyan, Sevak Aghekyan, Manuk Khechoyan, Derenik Minasyan, Vahe Avetisyan, Artur Hayrapetyan, Hakob Engibaryan, Harutyun Mnatsakanyan, Gor Mesropyan, Artashes Arshakyan, Vardan Antonyan, Vahagn Alikhanyan, Anri Khachatryan, Nikolay Poghosyan, David Muradyan, Ashot Voskanyan, Samvel Sargsyan, Arutyun Kirakosyan, Arman Nersisyan, Andranik Geghamyan, Hayk Sargsyan, Hovik Gasparyan, Hovhannes Sardaryan. The individuals have reportedly been charged under the Armenian Criminal Code for their conscientious objection to military service on religious grounds. Reportedly, a further three had been held in pretrial detention. On 19 July 2011, Garegin Avetisyan was allegedly convicted as a conscientious objector, sentenced and arrested for refusing military service. Religious conventions and meetings organized by Jehovah's Witnesses have reportedly been cancelled, allegedly due to pressure from Government officials and from priests of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Allegation letter, 22/08/2011:
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrdb/19th/UA_Armenia_22.08.11_%281.2011%29.pdf

Government response, 31/01/2012:
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrdb/19th/Armenia_31.01.2012_%281.2011%29.pdf

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Source: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/SP/A.HRC.19.44.EFSonly.pdf