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('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1356, 'und', 0, 'From stateless thinking to the Forum of independent minds\r\nby Rouben Shougarian\r\n\r\nPublished: Wednesday July 16, 2014\r\n\r\nA view of the July 2 seminar on Armenia at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington. PFA Armenia\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recepient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\nEnter a Forum \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\nThe three perfect failures \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\nCrimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed.  Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.    \r\nhttp://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1357, 'und', 0, 'From stateless thinking to the Forum of independent minds\r\nby Rouben Shougarian \r\n\r\nPublished by the Armenian Reporter on Wednesday July 16, 2014\r\n\r\nA view of the July 2 seminar on Armenia at the Atlantic Council of the United States in Washington. PFA Armenia\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recepient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\nEnter a Forum \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\nThe three perfect failures \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\nCrimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed.  Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.    \r\nhttp://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1358, 'und', 0, 'From stateless thinking to the Forum of independent minds\r\nby Rouben Shougarian (former Ambassador of Armenia in the US) \r\n\r\nPublished by the Armenian Reporter on Wednesday July 16, 2014\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recepient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\nEnter a Forum \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\nThe three perfect failures \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\nCrimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed.  Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.    \r\nhttp://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1359, 'und', 0, 'Published by the Armenian Reporter on Wednesday July 16, 2014\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recepient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\nEnter a Forum \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\nThe three perfect failures \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\nCrimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed. Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.\r\n\r\nRouben Shougarian, former Ambassador of Armenia in the US \r\n    \r\nThe original article is available via: http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1381, 'und', 0, 'Published by the Armenian Reporter on Wednesday July 16, 2014\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recipient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\n<strong>Enter a Forum</strong> \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\n<strong>The three perfect failures</strong> \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\n<strong>Crimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts</strong>  \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed. Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.\r\n\r\nRouben Shougarian, former Ambassador of Armenia in the US \r\n    \r\nThe original article is available via: http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'news', 0, 675, 1382, 'und', 0, '<a href=\"http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2014-07-16-from-stateless-thinking-to-the-forum-of-independent-minds-\">Published by the Armenian Reporter</a>\r\n\r\nAny strategic thinking in international politics starts from asking the right questions. In Armenia\'s case these questions have so far at best been asked on individual level yet without institutionalized consistency.\r\n\r\nAdvocacy groups in Washington would do their job with tangible success only as far as what has been perceived as the newly independent republic\'s immediate needs. It was either well-organized stop-gap measures that at some point made Armenia second in the world per capita recipient of US assistance and gained it a most favored nation status-the first positive example of lobbying for; or time and effort consuming lobbying against-the introduction and preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, the adoption of the Humanitarian Corridor Act and repeated attempts to pass a Genocide resolution on the Hill.\r\n\r\nThe miraculous passage of the direct aid for Nagorno Karabagh in 1998 was both a promising sign of the growing sophistication of Armenian advocacy and the result of a well-calculated political trade-off, when an exemption in Section 907 allowed TDA, OPIC and ExIm Bank to do business in Azerbaijan. Armenia\'s successful qualification for Millennium Challenge Account in 2000-2001 was probably as good as it could get for our country especially after the program was frozen following the very much questioned presidential election in 2008.\r\n\r\nDecline of democracy building and absence of strategic thinking in Yerevan made it impossible for US-Armenian relations to become systemic. On the other hand, America\'s laid-back criticism, not to say lenient acceptance of the process and results of the 2008, 2012 and 2013 national elections in Armenia did not help to raise the bilateral relations to a new level either.\r\n\r\n<strong>Enter a Forum</strong> \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is not only a new Washington-based Armenian think-tank, but, first and foremost, a new mind-set.  This is a group of outstanding professionals posing strategic questions about Armenia\'s future and unified by the need to address its past without prejudice. More importantly the PFA is in a constant, institutionalized search to prioritize Armenia\'s foreign and domestic policy issues, re-inventing the almost extinct ability to perceive itself as an independent country.\r\n\r\nThe closed-door seminar at the Atlantic Council on Armenia\'s relations with the West held on July 2, well attended by high-ranking representatives of the State Department, DOD and NSC as well as academic and think tank communities clearly demonstrated that several years of hard-work and sophistication yielded tangible results.  It should be noted that a similar event on Armenia-NATO relations sponsored by the PFA and the Atlantic Council last summer was also a successful attempt to break away from the prison of traditional thinking and graduate beyond the current modality of US-Armenian relations. \r\n\r\nThis year\'s seminar was preceded by the preparation and introduction of a detailed position paper, where emphasis was put on asking the right questions about the future of Armenia\'s independence rather than on seeking hasty answers. It is also noteworthy that in the previous case an analytical review was produced after the event summarizing and building on expert opinions expressed during the seminar itself.  In both cases it will not be an overstatement to say that the PFA raised the discussion on Armenia in Washington to a completely different level at the crucial time for our country.\r\n\r\n<strong>The three perfect failures</strong> \r\nThis is not only the time to act, but also the time to re-think Armenia\'s sovereignty. One can describe the foreign policy of Armenia in recent years as a chain of perfect diplomatic failures.\r\n\r\nThe signed but not ratified Zurich protocols are probably the first and most telling example why the failure was perfect for each and every participant of football diplomacy. All countries, including the mediators that participated in the Turkish-Armenian normalization epic, looked good internationally. The only exception was Azerbaijan, which was perceived as the main obstacle for successful completion of the deal. Yet it did not have to look good but strong. Therefore the failure was perfect for Azerbaijan as well. \r\n\r\nThe successfully completed but eventually not signed Association Agreement and DCFTA can be characterized as another perfect failure of Armenian foreign policy.\r\n\r\nThe third perfect failure is currently in the making. It takes shape in Armenia\'s constantly delayed participation in the Eurasian Union. The circumstantial twist of geopolitical choice imposed from without would most probably continue to drag the country into playing a peripheral role of a second-rate member in an organization with an unclear geopolitical future.\r\n\r\n<strong>Crimea and Karabakh: a study in contrasts</strong>  \r\nPerfect failures are usually accompanied by selective misinterpretation of major international events.  The current turmoil in Ukraine is particularly dangerous for countries, which have deceptively similar problems. \r\n\r\nFor Nagorno Karabakh, the danger of capitalizing on the Crimean referendum is that its own argument for self-determination risks being belittled. According to Richard Giragossian and other leading experts in the Black Sea/South Caucasus region, there are several reasons for this. They can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\nFirst, there was no clear and present danger for Crimea\'s security. The events there were largely instigated by a most aggressive twist of Russia\'s near abroad policy. Ukraine\'s attempt to sign the Association Agreement and DCFTA with the EU, and its decision not to join the Customs Union with Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus were the main reasons behind Moscow\'s sudden concerns about the Russian speaking population in Crimea.  In contrast, the underlying cause of Nagorno Karabagh\'s struggle for self-determination has always been physical security and a dire need to protect the region from external aggression and ethnic cleansing.\r\n\r\nThe second important difference can be found in the very modality of the referendum. The Crimean population, distinct from nearly all other cases of self-determination, never sought any degree of national independence. Instead, the people voted to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Against that background, Karabagh\'s current embrace of Crimea as an inspiration is more likely to devalue and belittle the essence of its own quest. Such a dangerous twist of wishful thinking would only harm Karabagh\'s case before the international community and weaken its position at the negotiation table. Russia itself is very reluctant to draw any parallels between what happened in the Crimea and other territorial/ethnic disputes in the FSU.\r\n\r\nThird, the Crimean referendum itself was never really a question of \"national\" self-determination. It can rather be defined as \"regional\" self-determination, with no attempt to use Ukrainian laws, political negotiations and constitutional process for this purpose. In contrast to the Crimean example, Nagorno Karabagh\'s political choice of the early 90s to use the existing legal framework and the Soviet Constitution to achieve independence, make the national referendum there significantly different.\r\n\r\nIt is high time to think about small but manageable steps aimed at the preservation of Armenia\'s sovereignty and strengthening its security. They have to replace wishful thinking and the short-term comfort of perfect failures.  To do that not just a new policy, but also the new mind-set is needed. Along with courageous outcries of concerned individuals both in Armenia and Diaspora this presupposes the forum of free thinkers unified through institutionalized network.\r\n\r\nRouben Shougarian, former Ambassador of Armenia in the US \r\n ', '', 'filtered_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1361, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\nPFA’s New Report Lays out a Roadmap for Armenia’s Relations with the West and a New Vision for the Caucasus\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on “Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 2, 2014.\r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1362, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\nPFA’s New Report Lays out a Roadmap for Armenia’s Relations with the West and a New Vision for the Caucasus\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on “Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 2, 2014.\r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1363, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on “Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 2, 2014.\r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1378, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/sites/default/files/documents/files/Armenia%20and%20the%20West--FINAL%20%281%29.pdf\">“Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”</a>, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council in Washington on July 2, 2014.\r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1383, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/sites/default/files/documents/files/Armenia%20and%20the%20West--FINAL%20%281%29.pdf\">“Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”</a>, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/event/joint-workshop-atlantic-council-armenia-and-west\">high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council</a> in Washington on July 2, 2014. \r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advising firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 677, 1384, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 1, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org \r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org \r\n\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA)—a Washington-based international think tank—announces today the publication of its State of the Nation Report on <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/sites/default/files/documents/files/Armenia%20and%20the%20West--FINAL%20%281%29.pdf\">“Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus”</a>, an earlier version of which was presented as a background paper during a <a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/event/joint-workshop-atlantic-council-armenia-and-west\">high-level workshop at the Atlantic Council</a> in Washington on July 2, 2014. \r\n\r\nThe report is intended for policymakers with interest in strengthening Armenia and its ties with the West. It offers some out-of-the-box thinking that challenges prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. The report essentially sets aside a critical handicapping factor—Armenia’s leadership and governance—and lays out a vision for the country’s role in the region under a leadership that would enjoy widespread support among its people; understand and stay current with global trends; and maintain a reasonable degree of independence from foreign interference. The report states that, if implemented in practical terms, a leadership change of this nature will unleash Armenia’s developmental potential and effectively lead to the proposed foreign policy reorientation.\r\n \r\nThe report notes that, while Armenia owns its current problems, the West has lost a valuable opportunity to steer Armenia toward more democracy and better governance. However, recent developments in the wider region bring new opportunities for the West to forge stronger ties with Armenia. Yet, as argued in the report, this cannot be done with the current ruling regime, which has squandered the country’s economic and geopolitical potential and brought Armenia close to a point of no-return. \r\n\r\nThe report provides a thorough review of Armenia’s bilateral relations with all its neighbors and Russia. While it recognizes the gravity of the current status quo that relies heavily on Russia’s meddling in Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy choices, it proposes a way out. The report notes that the Russia’s control of Armenia is working against the long-run interests of both countries. This state of affairs is not sustainable. The challenge is to convince Russia to step back and allow Armenia to build bridges with other countries/blocks, as dictated by its own strategic interests, while still maintaining an exclusive relationship with Russia.\r\n\r\nIn his remarks, Armenia’s first Ambassador to the United States, Rouben Shougarian noted that: \"The report that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia’s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia’s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.\"\r\n\r\nWhile analyzing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement, the report lays out three possible scenarios. The most attractive scenario for Armenia—one that requires strengthening the country’s economy and defense capabilities to retain control over Nagorno-Karabakh—is one that would also bring stability to the region and allow the creation of a Transcaucasian economic market for the benefit of all players. In terms of Armenia’s attractiveness for the West, the report lays out a vision in which Armenia plays a role of a key corridor for de-blockading Iran, when the Western sanctions are lifted; acts as a reliable partner for Georgia in an otherwise very volatile region; and presents itself as a potential buffer against Turkey’s neo-Ottoman aspirations in the region. \r\n\r\n“I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA’s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia’s foreign relations.” said Vahan Zanoyan, author and retired Chairman of PFC Energy International, a global energy advisory firm. \r\n\r\n# # #\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.', '', 'filtered_html'),
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 679, 1385, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 21, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia condemns in strongest possible terms the brutal treatment of Alec Yenigomshian, a blind political activist, by police in downtown Yerevan on October 19, 2014. According to media reports, Yenigomshian was forced out of a car and left standing on a busy section of a street at dawn despite his numerous warnings that he cannot see, while the car and its driver were taken into custody.   \r\n \r\nWe urge human rights organizations and our partners in Armenia to help identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and stand ready to assist. Police brutality in Armenia should end. These and other politically motivated repressions against prominent activists will not diminish our people’s resolve to bring down the regime in Yerevan and put Armenia on a path to development and progress.\r\n \r\nAs the Genocide’s Centennial approaches, the Diaspora communities around the world will be watching closely how the regime treats its subjects today, especially those who kept the flames of the Armenian cause alive for years and played a major role in our nation’s latest victory in the war in Artsakh, both against all odds.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 679, 1386, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 21, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia condemns in strongest possible terms the brutal treatment of Alec Yenigomshian, a blind political activist, by police in downtown Yerevan on October 19, 2014. According to media reports, Yenigomshian was forced out of a car and left standing on a busy section of a street despite his numerous warnings that he cannot see, while the car and its driver were taken into custody.   \r\n \r\nWe urge human rights organizations and our partners in Armenia to help identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and stand ready to assist. Police brutality in Armenia should end. These and other politically motivated repressions against prominent activists will not diminish our people’s resolve to bring down the regime in Yerevan and put Armenia on a path to development and progress.\r\n \r\nAs the Genocide’s Centennial approaches, the Diaspora communities around the world will be watching closely how the regime treats its subjects today, especially those who kept the flames of the Armenian cause alive for years and played a major role in our nation’s latest victory in the war in Artsakh, both against all odds.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 679, 1387, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 21, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia condemns in strongest possible terms the brutal treatment of Alec Yenigomshian, a blind political activist, by police in downtown Yerevan on October 19, 2014. According to media reports, Yenigomshian was forced out of a car and left standing on a busy section of a street despite his numerous warnings that he cannot see, while the car and its driver were taken into custody.   \r\n \r\nWe urge human rights organizations and our partners in Armenia to help identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and stand ready to assist. Police brutality in Armenia should end. These and other politically motivated repressions against prominent activists will not diminish our people’s resolve to bring down the regime in Yerevan and put Armenia on a path to development and progress.\r\n \r\nAs the Genocide’s Centennial approaches, the Diaspora communities around the world will be watching closely how the regime treats its subjects today, especially those who kept the flames of the Armenian cause alive for years and played a major role in our nation’s latest victory in the war in Artsakh, both against all odds.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 679, 1388, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 21, 2014\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia condemns in strongest possible terms the brutal treatment of Alec Yenigomshian, a blind political activist, by police in downtown Yerevan on October 19, 2014. According to media reports, Yenigomshian was forced out of a car and left standing on a busy section of a street despite his numerous warnings that he cannot see, while the car and its driver were taken into custody.   \r\n \r\nWe urge human rights organizations and our partners in Armenia to help identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable and stand ready to assist. Police brutality in Armenia should end. These and other politically motivated repressions against prominent activists will not diminish our people’s resolve to bring down the regime in Yerevan and put Armenia on a path to development and progress.\r\n \r\nAs the Genocide’s Centennial approaches, the Diaspora communities around the world will be watching closely how the regime treats its subjects today, especially those who kept the flames of the Armenian cause alive for years and played a major role in our nation’s latest victory in the war in Artsakh, both against all odds.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'document', 0, 680, 1391, 'und', 0, '<p>The report offers some innovative thinking about Armenia&rsquo;s geopolitical potential and challenges the prevailing views about Western involvement in Armenia and the Caucasus. It explicitly ignores Armenia&rsquo;s main handicapping factor&mdash;its leadership and governance problems&mdash;and lays out a vision for the country&rsquo;s role in the region under a popular, clean, and independent government.</p><h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">Testimonials</h4><blockquote><p>&quot;The report&nbsp;Armenia and the West: A New Vision for the Caucasus&nbsp;that followed the multifaceted discussion at the Atlantic Council on July 2, 2014 is both a gratifying result of a comprehensive insight into Armenia&rsquo;s foreign and security policy and a creative after-thought to the discussion itself. It is also a rare attempt to put Armenia&rsquo;s future into strategic perspective, which helps it to graduate beyond one-dimensional dependence on Russia and opens the door for alternative political thinking. Foreign policy problems and challenges are rightfully linked to better governance and democracy building.&quot; <strong>Rouben Shougarian, Armenia&#39;s First&nbsp;Ambassador&nbsp;to the US.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>&ldquo;I have been following the activities of Policy Forum Armenia for some time, and find the work of this small but outstanding group of professionals truly impressive. PFA&rsquo;s ability to think outside the established norms and clichés, its perseverance and its well researched and thorough reports on difficult and hard-hitting subjects have always met the highest professional standards. Their latest report on Armenia and the West is no exception. One may or may not agree with all its conclusions, but the report stands as one of the most thoughtful and possibly consequential works on the subject of Armenia&rsquo;s foreign relations.&rdquo; <strong>Vahan Zanoyan, Author and Retired Chairman of PFC Energy International.&nbsp;</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>&ldquo;Policy Forum Armenia has rendered an invaluable service to scholars and the general public in issuing the report &ldquo;Armenia and the West,&rdquo; a detailed exploration of the foreign and domestic policies of the newly-independent Caucasian republic. These are evaluated in the context of all of Armenia&rsquo;s neighboring states, with special attention to Russia &ndash; a vital inclusion in the light of the recent Ukrainian confrontation. The report pulls no punches in its examination of Armenia&rsquo;s faltering economy and governance in general, and displays total objectivity in its dissection of Armenia&rsquo;s problems. It is a unique document and mandatory reading for anyone preoccupied with Armenian affairs.&quot; <strong>Edward Alexander, Author of &ldquo;A Crime of Vengeance: An Armenian Struggle for Justice&rdquo; and Retired US Diplomat.</strong></p></blockquote>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 681, 1392, 'und', 0, 'Eduard Abrahamyan is a regional security and defense strategy expert focused on Greater Black Sea affairs. He graduated from the Yerevan State University, Department of International Relations and Politics (where he subsequently also completed his PhD) and subsequently from the University of Westminster, London. Eduard is one of the founders of analytic center “Mitq” and has conducted research in Armenia, United Kingdom, Belgium, Russia, US on various issues, such as, political and military threats and risks in the Eastern Europe and the Black sea, the prospects of political and military partnership between South Caucasus states and NATO, among others. Currently, Eduard lives in London, where he is broadening his expertise in international relations and regional security of the Balkans, South Caucasus and Eastern Europe at the University of Leicester. ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'blog_entry', 0, 682, 1394, 'und', 0, '<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"https://pfarmenia.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pastpresent-future.jpg\" style=\"width: 313px; height: 300px;\" /></p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 683, 1396, 'und', 0, '<p><em>Policy Forum Armenia considers the recent issuance of the $500 million Eurobond by the government of Armenia as irresponsible and damaging for the country. </em></p><p>Armenia is undergoing a serious balance-of-payments crisis of its own making. Over-reliance on remittances from Russia, unwillingness to allow the exchange rate to adjust, and continuous interventions on the foreign exchange market have resulted in significant overvaluation of the dram, serious loss of competitiveness, and significant decline in the Central Bank&rsquo;s foreign reserves. The aggregate activity, including exports, has slowed down considerably in recent months and the fiscal conditions are deteriorating rapidly as a result.</p><p>Deep reforms are needed to move Armenia&rsquo;s economy from an imminent collapse. Issuing expensive foreign debt and attempting to pay one&rsquo;s way out of the crisis will only delay the inevitable and result in even bigger losses for consumers, banks, and the sovereign balance sheet. The regime&rsquo;s desire to avoid policy changes until the Genocide Centennial on April 24 will thus have serious consequences for the country and its population, a significant portion of which already lives in extreme poverty.</p><p>We call upon the international community and capital market participants to cease funding the regime in Yerevan in light of the overwhelming evidence of embezzlement of the proceeds and of the disastrous economic and social policies carried out by the incompetent and corrupt government of Hovik Abrahamyan. Future democratic governments of Armenia will have every reason to declare these debts illegitimate and stop servicing them.</p><p>PFA Executive Board</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 683, 1397, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">March 24, 2015</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><em>Policy Forum Armenia considers the recent issuance of the $500 million Eurobond by the government of Armenia as irresponsible and damaging for the country. </em></p><p>Armenia is undergoing a serious balance-of-payments crisis of its own making. Over-reliance on remittances from Russia, unwillingness to allow the exchange rate to adjust, and continuous interventions on the foreign exchange market have resulted in significant overvaluation of the dram, serious loss of competitiveness, and significant decline in the Central Bank&rsquo;s foreign reserves. The aggregate activity, including exports, has slowed down considerably in recent months and the fiscal conditions are deteriorating rapidly as a result.</p><p>Deep reforms are needed to move Armenia&rsquo;s economy from an imminent collapse. Issuing expensive foreign debt and attempting to pay one&rsquo;s way out of the crisis will only delay the inevitable and result in even bigger losses for consumers, banks, and the sovereign balance sheet. The regime&rsquo;s desire to avoid policy changes until the Genocide Centennial on April 24 will thus have serious consequences for the country and its population, a significant portion of which already lives in extreme poverty.</p><p>We call upon the international community and capital market participants to cease funding the regime in Yerevan in light of the overwhelming evidence of embezzlement of the proceeds and of the disastrous economic and social policies carried out by the incompetent and corrupt government of Hovik Abrahamyan. Future democratic governments of Armenia will have every reason to declare these debts illegitimate and stop servicing them.</p><p>PFA Executive Board</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 685, 1404, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns in strongest possible terms the arrests of prominent opposition leaders, members of the Founding Parliament, and harassment of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian by Armenia’s ruling regime in the early morning hours of April 7th.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply disturbed by actions against these individuals carried under the pretense of \"preempting mass disturbances,\" despite several public announcements by the Founding Parliament to the contrary. Such actions by the Armenian security apparatus, targeting influential opposition leaders and taken without securing material evidence, inflict fear upon Armenian citizens and severely limit political freedoms.\r\n\r\nPFA expresses its support to the civil society in Armenia and calls upon Armenians in the Diaspora to put all possible pressure on the regime in Yerevan to stop persecutions of civil and political activists.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 685, 1405, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns in strongest possible terms the arrests of prominent opposition leaders, members of the Founding Parliament, and harassment of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian by Armenia’s ruling regime in the early morning hours of April 7th.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply disturbed by actions against these individuals carried under the pretense of \"preempting mass disturbances,\" despite several public announcements by the Founding Parliament to the contrary. Such actions by the Armenian security apparatus, targeting influential opposition leaders and taken without securing material evidence, inflict fear upon Armenian citizens and severely limit political freedoms.\r\n\r\nPFA expresses its support to the civil society in Armenia and calls upon Armenians in the Diaspora to put all possible pressure on the regime in Yerevan to stop persecutions of civil and political activists.\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1407, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n* * *\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1408, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n* * *\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1409, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n                                                                                                                       * * *\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1410, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n                                                                                                                  ###\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1411, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n                                                                                                                  ###\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1412, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n                                                                                                                  ###\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1413, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nApril 9, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancelation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\n                                                                                                                  ###\r\nPFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This State of the Nation report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1414, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1415, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1416, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns the police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1417, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1418, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to sizably worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	the demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	the institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1419, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters, who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to markedly worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	the demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	the institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 687, 1420, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nJune 26, 2015\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia (PFA) condemns police brutality and arrests of peaceful protesters, who were exercising their Constitutional rights of freedom assembly and speech to protest against electricity tariff hikes in Armenia on June 23, 2015.\r\n\r\nFor years, the constant defrauding of the citizenry and the Diaspora by Armenia\'s current and past regimes has been a subject of PFA\'s research. Unprecedented state capture, rigged elections, devastating social and economic policies, and uncontrolled exploitation of Armenia\'s natural resources have been hallmarks of the ruling oligarchy and subjects of PFA\'s reports.  It is our position that these abuses constitute the primary threat to Armenia’s stability and national security.\r\n\r\nTwo years ago, the citizens of Armenia united in a widespread grassroots campaign against a proposed bus fare increase – and won.  Today, the citizens are again united against exploitation and poor energy policy through the “No to Plunder!” civil campaign and street demonstrations. \r\n\r\nThe protesters demand cancellation of the energy tariff hike scheduled to go into effect on August 1, 2015.  An outcome of years of corruption and mismanagement in the electricity network and tariff-setting policies of government, the proposed tariff hike and subsequent trickle-down effects are expected to markedly worsen the social conditions of the majority of Armenia’s population, at least 40 percent of which live under the poverty threshold. \r\n\r\nTherefore, Policy Forum Armenia calls upon:\r\n\r\n•	the demonstrators to stand firmly on their demands for electricity tariff freeze, set up a structure capable of consolidating the protest across the country, and start forming demands for systemic change beyond the electricity tariff issue;\r\n\r\n•	the institutions, organizations, and individuals in Armenia and the Diaspora to publicly condemn the abuses by the police and put the pressure on the regime to reform or leave;\r\n\r\n•	the Armenian Church not to ignore the daily injustices faced by people of Armenia and stand by her flock.\r\n\r\nPFA stands with the freedom-loving citizens of Armenia and reaffirms its commitment for building a free, independent, united, and prosperous homeland.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 690, 1423, 'und', 0, 'Armenia is standing at one of the most important crossroads since independence in 1991.  The situation is dire: victorious in the 1994 liberation of Artsakh, but defeated by homegrown corruption, criminality, and incompetence, the people of Armenia are leaving their homeland in tens of thousands per year. Poverty is likely in excess of the official number of nearly 40 percent, and the economy shows no signs of growth. Unless profound systemic changes take place in the way the country is governed, Armenia will not survive another war or severe economic shock. Unfortunately, the proposed Constitutional changes are likely to make the matters even worse.\r\n\r\nWhile current polls show an overwhelming support for the “No” vote, this will not stop the regime from attempting to falsify the final results.  PFA expects the constitutional referendum to follow similar patterns of fraud that have plagued past presidential and parliamentary elections, as we have demonstrated in our reports.\r\n\r\nAs demonstrated in the outcome of the 2013 Presidential Election, the regime has a capacity to secure at least 850 thousand votes through a combination of approximately 500-550 thousand fraudulent votes (obtained via ballot stuffing, multiple and carousel voting, as well as intentional miscounting) and reliance on its 250-300 thousand loyal “Yes” voters, consisting mainly of government officials, police, army, and those employed by the oligarchs and their family members, who vote “Yes” regardless of own position/conviction.  The regime needs only 638 or so thousand votes to pass the proposed amendments. \r\n\r\nThe chances of the opposing sides to counter this are very slim. Despite official figures, Armenia’s current population and number of people eligible to vote are unlikely to be more than 1.6 million and 1.2 million, respectively. After netting out the regime’s loyal “Yes” base and assuming a participation rate of 80 percent the opposition can at best secure 700 thousand votes. Therefore, striking down the referendum would require an unprecedented mobilization of opposition forces and civil society.  PFA believes that most efforts should be directed at reducing fraud in its various forms.  We, therefore, call on opposition forces to:\r\n\r\n•	Promote a “get out and vote!” campaign.\r\n\r\n•	Join efforts to set up an effective monitoring system (inside and outside of the polling stations) to limit all forms of fraud.  To this end, select polling stations based on past fraud history and collaborate with friendly local civil society groups and international monitors to secure adequate manning/coverage of those stations.\r\n\r\n•	Promote an awareness campaign among the regime’s loyal “Yes” voters to explain that the carousel system can be defeated: a voter who is forced to engage in a carousel voting should invalidate the pre-marked ballot given to them by the current ruling regime before throwing it into the ballot box.\r\n\r\nPFA believes that the constitutional amendments proposed by the regime in Armenia should not be adopted, as the amendments will only entrench those who have usurped democratic processes and exploited their positions and offices for their own gain. Armenia’s current Constitution states that “power belongs to people.”  It is thus up to the citizens of Armenia—with the support of all Armenians worldwide who look to the homeland for inspiration and pride—to use this power in such a way so as to stop Armenia’s slide toward extreme underdevelopment and poverty, mass migration, and weak national security. The time to act is now.  \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 690, 1424, 'und', 0, 'Armenia is standing at one of the most important crossroads since independence in 1991.  The situation is dire: victorious in the 1994 liberation of Artsakh, but defeated by homegrown corruption, criminality, and incompetence, the people of Armenia are leaving their homeland in tens of thousands per year. Poverty is likely in excess of the official number of nearly 40 percent, and the economy shows no signs of growth. Unless profound systemic changes take place in the way the country is governed, Armenia will not survive another war or severe economic shock. Unfortunately, the proposed Constitutional changes are likely to make the matters even worse.\r\n\r\nWhile current polls show an overwhelming support for the “No” vote, this will not stop the regime from attempting to falsify the final results.  PFA expects the constitutional referendum to follow similar patterns of fraud that have plagued past presidential and parliamentary elections, as we have demonstrated in our reports.\r\n\r\nAs demonstrated in the outcome of the 2013 Presidential Election, the regime has a capacity to secure at least 850 thousand votes through a combination of approximately 500-550 thousand fraudulent votes (obtained via ballot stuffing, multiple and carousel voting, as well as intentional miscounting) and reliance on its 250-300 thousand loyal “Yes” voters, consisting mainly of government officials, police, army, and those employed by the oligarchs and their family members, who vote “Yes” regardless of own position/conviction.  The regime needs only 638 or so thousand votes to pass the proposed amendments. \r\n\r\nThe chances of the opposing sides to counter this are very slim. Despite official figures, Armenia’s current population and number of people eligible to vote are unlikely to be more than 1.6 million and 1.2 million, respectively. After netting out the regime’s loyal “Yes” base and assuming a participation rate of 80 percent the opposition can at best secure 700 thousand votes. Therefore, striking down the referendum would require an unprecedented mobilization of opposition forces and civil society.  PFA believes that most efforts should be directed at reducing fraud in its various forms.  We, therefore, call on opposition forces to:\r\n\r\n•	Promote a “get out and vote!” campaign.\r\n\r\n•	Join efforts to set up an effective monitoring system (inside and outside of the polling stations) to limit all forms of fraud.  To this end, select polling stations based on past fraud history and collaborate with friendly local civil society groups and international monitors to secure adequate manning/coverage of those stations.\r\n\r\n•	Promote an awareness campaign among the regime’s loyal “Yes” voters to explain that the carousel system can be defeated: a voter who is forced to engage in a carousel voting should invalidate the pre-marked ballot given to them by the current ruling regime before throwing it into the ballot box.\r\n\r\nPFA believes that the constitutional amendments proposed by the regime in Armenia should not be adopted, as the amendments will only entrench those who have usurped democratic processes and exploited their positions and offices for their own gain. Armenia’s current Constitution states that “power belongs to people.”  It is thus up to the citizens of Armenia—with the support of all Armenians worldwide who look to the homeland for inspiration and pride—to use this power in such a way so as to stop Armenia’s slide toward extreme underdevelopment and poverty, mass migration, and weak national security. The time to act is now.  \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'blog_entry', 0, 691, 1425, 'und', 0, 'A December 6 referendum that transforms Armenia into a parliamentary form of government is seen as an attempt to extend the rule of President Serzh Sargsyan who, at the end of his second and final term in office, is likely to be appointed Prime Minister. (Reuters/David Mdzinarishvili)', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 693, 1427, 'und', 0, 'April 2, 2016\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia profoundly mourns the loss of civilian and military life and offers its deepest condolences to the families of victims of this latest Azerbaijani aggression.\r\n \r\nWe place the blame for the escalation of the situation entirely on Aliev regime, whose bellicose rhetoric of recent months has become even more aggressive, as a way of diverting attention of own population from worsening economic and human rights conditions in the country.\r\n \r\nWe note the futility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia—Armenia’s “strategic” partner and weapons’ supplier to Azerbaijan—which underscores the need for Armenia to reduce its reliance on these arrangements by further strengthening its own defenses and diversifying its security arrangements to include its western partners. \r\n \r\nWe reiterate that the Sargsyan regime remains the ultimate reason for Armenia’s weaknesses on diplomatic and security fronts, which have left the enemy unchecked, both diplomatically and militarily. A de facto client state of Russia, marred with systemic corruption and human rights abuses, Armenia has lost its international standing in recent years and remains extremely vulnerable economically, a problem that requires an urgent solution.\r\n \r\nFinally, we fully support the people of Armenia in their aspiration to build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country in Armenia proper and Artsakh, and remain committed to contributing to these objectives in any way consistent with our mandate. \r\n \r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 693, 1428, 'und', 0, 'April 2, 2016\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia profoundly mourns the loss of civilian and military life and offers its deepest condolences to the families of victims of this latest Azerbaijani aggression.\r\n \r\nWe place the blame for the escalation of the situation entirely on Aliev regime, whose bellicose rhetoric of recent months has become even more aggressive, as a way of diverting attention of own population from worsening economic and human rights conditions in the country.\r\n \r\nWe note the futility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia—Armenia’s “strategic” partner and weapons’ supplier to Azerbaijan—which underscores the need for Armenia to reduce its reliance on these arrangements by further strengthening its own defenses and diversifying its security arrangements to include its western partners. \r\n \r\nWe reiterate that the Sargsyan regime remains the ultimate reason for Armenia’s weaknesses on diplomatic and security fronts, which have left the enemy unchecked, both diplomatically and militarily. A de facto client state of Russia, marred with systemic corruption and human rights abuses, Armenia has lost its international standing in recent years and remains extremely vulnerable economically, a problem that requires an urgent solution.\r\n \r\nFinally, we fully support the people of Armenia in their aspiration to build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country in Armenia proper and Artsakh, and remain committed to contributing to these objectives in any way consistent with our mandate. \r\n \r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 693, 1429, 'und', 0, 'April 2, 2016\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia profoundly mourns the loss of civilian and military life and offers its deepest condolences to the families of victims of this latest Azerbaijani aggression.\r\n \r\nWe place the blame for the escalation of the situation entirely on the Aliyev regime, whose bellicose rhetoric of recent months has become even more aggressive, as a way of diverting attention of own population from worsening economic and human rights conditions in the country.\r\n \r\nWe note the futility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia—Armenia’s “strategic” partner and weapons’ supplier to Azerbaijan—which underscores the need for Armenia to reduce its reliance on these arrangements by further strengthening its own defenses and diversifying its security arrangements to include its western partners. \r\n \r\nWe reiterate that the Sargsyan regime remains the ultimate reason for Armenia’s weaknesses on diplomatic and security fronts, which have left the enemy unchecked, both diplomatically and militarily. A de facto client state of Russia, marred with systemic corruption and human rights abuses, Armenia has lost its international standing in recent years and remains extremely vulnerable economically, a problem that requires an urgent solution.\r\n \r\nFinally, we fully support the people of Armenia in their aspiration to build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country in Armenia proper and Artsakh, and remain committed to contributing to these objectives in any way consistent with our mandate. \r\n \r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 693, 1430, 'und', 0, 'April 2, 2016\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia profoundly mourns the loss of civilian and military life and offers its deepest condolences to the families of victims of this latest Azerbaijani aggression.\r\n \r\nWe place the blame for the escalation of the situation entirely on the Aliyev regime, whose bellicose rhetoric of recent months has become even more aggressive, as a way of diverting attention of own population from worsening economic and human rights conditions in the country.\r\n \r\nWe note the futility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia—Armenia’s “strategic” partner and weapons’ supplier to Azerbaijan—which underscores the need for Armenia to reduce its reliance on these arrangements by further strengthening its own defenses and diversifying its security arrangements to include its western partners. \r\n \r\nWe reiterate that the Sargsyan regime remains the ultimate reason for Armenia’s weaknesses on diplomatic and security fronts, which have left the enemy unchecked, both diplomatically and militarily. A de facto client state of Russia, marred with systemic corruption and human rights abuses, Armenia has lost its international standing in recent years and remains extremely vulnerable economically, a problem that requires an urgent solution.\r\n \r\nFinally, we fully support the people of Armenia in their aspiration to build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic country in Armenia proper and Artsakh, and remain committed to contributing to these objectives in any way consistent with our mandate. \r\n \r\nPFA Executive Board', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'event', 0, 694, 1432, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Washington, DC.&mdash;On April 21, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia held a round-table discussion on the &quot;4-day war&quot; between Armenia and Azerbaijan that brought together experts from Modus Vivendi center (Yerevan), National Defense University, Brookings Institution, Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), American University (SIS), and Carnegie Foundation (all Washington), as well as members of Washington Armenian community. What follows is a summary of the discussions that took place during the seminar.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Opening remarks</strong></p><p>The events of the&rdquo; 4-day war&rdquo; debunked two critical myths in Armenia:</p><p><strong>Myth #1:</strong> The regime is capable of preserving the status quo in Artsakh (Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh) by maintaining a viable army. We know now this is not true: systemic corruption and incompetence were in many ways behind the failures of intelligence, adequate supply of arms, and diplomacy.</p><p><strong>Myth # 2:</strong> Russia is an effective partner and can at least guarantee the peace in the region. This too proved wrong. Moreover, concern now is that Russia is preparing a defeatist peace for Armenia, involving deployment of peacekeepers in the region and forcing Armenia to give away some territories.</p><p>It is only due to the effort of the troops on the line of contact that the situation was saved. As a result, the view commonly shared within the society is that the regime needs to go as it cannot perform its key functions anymore.</p><p>This war is not a minor issue and it can draw in other regional power.</p><p><strong>Developments during April 2-5 </strong></p><ul><li>The conflicting sides engaged each other on a scale unseen since the ceasefire of 1994. Armenian side had nearly 100 deaths and over 200 wounded. On the Azerbaijan&rsquo;s side, the numbers are likely to be multiples of that, but the official data are unreliable.</li><li>Main questions on people&rsquo;s minds: what happened, why now, and what is awaiting Armenia down the road? Factors such as low oil prices, growing tension between the ethnic groups and between the Sunnis and Shias, as well as Panama Papers could have been behind Aliyev&rsquo;s actions. The intention could have been to divert the attention of public from the internal problems toward the enemy, Armenia.</li><li>While Russia blames Turkey for the renewed hostilities (presenting the latest escalation as a proxy war between Russia and Turkey), it is clear that Russia failed to provide any tangible support to Armenia, causing frustration in Armenia. Much of this frustration was aired during the demonstrations in front of the Russian embassy, which accompanied (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov&rsquo;s visit to Armenia. More specifically, Russia&rsquo;s supplies of advanced weapons to Azerbaijan are seen as contributing to the hostilities. In the past few years, Russia sold Azerbaijan nearly $5 billion worth of weapons, which dwarfs the amount of equipment it sold to Armenia. In fact, Russia&rsquo;s supply of weapons to Armenia during the past 3 years has been minimal and some recent purchases (to be funded by $200 million Russian loan) are yet to be delivered. There is a strong correlation between the supply of weapons in the region and this war. Both the frequency of clashed and the number of casualties have gone up with Azerbaijan&rsquo;s acquisition of modern weapon: Armenian combat losses were 53, 76, and 94, in 2014, 2015, and so far in 2016, respectively. There is a concern that in the near future there will be a much bigger war between Armenia and Azerbaijan with usage of advanced armament.</li><li>There are two reasons why the &ldquo;4-day war&rdquo; was a strange one. First, the Armenian side didn&rsquo;t use any advanced weaponry (e.g., rockets and launchers). Only ground operations were conducted and there was no order made to use any type of advanced weapons. Second, the rear army units (from Armenia proper) were not used on the frontier. These observations made some analysts suspicious that this was a staged performance/war to make Armenian army look defeated, so some territories can be annexed from Artsakh followed by a Russia-brokered peace and deployment of peacekeepers. This plan failed due to the (heroic and unexpected) pushback of Armenian soldiers on the ground.</li><li>Finally, there is also a very big and growing dissatisfaction with the Armenian government. It has become clear for the general public that corruption that we were speaking about for so long (including PFA&rsquo;s report on this) exists on a large scale and has had an impact on the army&rsquo;s battle-readiness.</li></ul><p><strong>A view from the West</strong></p><ul><li>After the fall of the Soviet Union, the borders of the independent states remain unstable and divided, with violence remaining just below the surface. Russia&rsquo;s borders have become places of violence because of internal regime instability or change. In the NKR case, the disorder rooted in Soviet heritage, which has not been resolved, being a result of both presence and absence of Russian power in the region. On the one hand, Russia has more pressing issues to worry about right now (e.g., low oil prices, sanctions, Ukraine, and economic contraction) and probably wants to avoid any deep long-time commitment in such an unstable region. On the other hand, Russia has a desire in preventing the nations on its borders from becoming strong, independent, and functional states (e.g., Ukraine, Poland, and Armenia are examples from the past and present. In early-1920s, Russian policy did not do any good to Armenia and Azerbaijan). In Belarus and Kazakhstan, Russia has partnered with authoritarian regimes run by strong men, who enrich themselves while impoverishing and repressing their people through institutionalized theft and corruption. Continuous conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is an obstacle to the progress of both countries, societies, and their foreign affairs. It keeps them isolated and justifies Russia&rsquo;s role as a mediator. While preventing Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan from becoming economically viable entities in the South Caucasus region. In a continuation of its policies, Russia might be playing Armenia and Azerbaijan against each other. Forcing Armenia to abandon its aspirations of signing the European Association treaty (the lessons of which Ukrainians learned the hard way) was a move in the same direction.</li><li>Armenia needs to establish a more stable equilibrium with regard to the issue of Artsakh, which may require concessions and will allow the US and the EU to play a more prominent role. From the Western/American perspective, there is a little interest in choosing sides. Both governments are authoritarian and dependent. But contributing to an understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan is in the interest of American policy makers if they want stability. Constructive American involvement will also undercut Russian influence and its ability to play Armenia against Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani actions on April 2-5 were designed to demonstrate the unsustainability of the current status quo and their ability to overturn it. Armenia is not well positioned in the long run to resist these developments. In addition, the extent of Russian friendship (in light of military supplies to Azerbaijan) is often a question: Armenia is used as a tool of Russia&rsquo;s policy rather than an ally. Armenia needs to recalibrate its foreign policy so it can sustain itself instead of relying on Russia for political, economic, and diplomatic support. American and European involvement is essential in this context and can also help domestic progress in Armenia towards greater political freedom and economic functionality.</li><li>The Armenian side needs to do a better job at explaining the relevance and importance of continued problems in Artsakh to the Western&mdash;especially American&mdash;audience. The conflict has potentially far-reaching implications for the US: violence in the Caucasus affects international oil and gas markets, and can draw in Russia and US (as co-chairs of the Minsk group) as well as Iran and Turkey (a NATO member). In this context it is important for the US to take a leading role to ensure stability. If the US fails to do that, Russia will fill in the void and portray itself as a unilateral peacekeeper. This will undermine the US leadership in the organizations, such as OSCE, and may eventually lead to situations similar to that in Syria, where the overall US absentee policy generated poor results (e.g., ongoing conflict, refugees, and rise of ISIS).</li></ul><p><strong>A view from Georgia</strong></p><ul><li>Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are important for Georgia both in terms of trade, transit, and respective communities living in Georgia. The escalation of this conflict is obviously very bad for Georgia both economically and strategically. Georgian leaders had several conversations with their counterparts on both sides in recent days. Georgia tries to play a constructive role in this conflict, but it is beyond its ability to facilitate resolution of the conflict.</li><li>The strategic reality of the South Caucasus is changing, which makes the status quo around Artsakh difficult to maintain. The relevant elements are: (i) Russia is playing a more aggressive role in the neighborhood; (ii) there is a relative disengagement of the US from the region; (iii) the EU is occupied with its own problems; (iv) developments in Syria are having an impact (Russia-Turkish tensions is the most important development, with citizens of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and other neighboring countries, including Russia, fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq); (v) population change in Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan (with Azerbaijan having almost double that of people actually living in Georgia and Armenia combined); and (vi) relative economic strengths (75 percent of the region&rsquo;s GDP is produced in Azerbaijan despite low oil prices. Azerbaijan is also the biggest investor in Georgia).</li><li>A recent invitation by the US administration for President Aliyev to visit Washington marked a change in otherwise rather cold relations between the West and Azerbaijan of recent years. From this standpoint, it is difficult to see how Aliyev would willingly jeopardize this progress and start a war, which is guaranteed to be unpopular in the West. Hence, Russian may have played a role here.</li><li>All three countries of the South Caucasus are victims and hostages of the situation when the outside power manipulates conflicts, which do not serve the interests of the people of the region.</li><li>During the past two millennia, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Georgians lived more under the same statehood then under different statehoods. This suggests that if relationships between people are not manipulated they can co-exist. There are some proposals on the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict that are on the table now, but compromises from both sides are required to make them stick. It is absolutely essential to solve this conflict for the well-being of all three countries. The party that is not interested in the resolution of this conflict is Russia. Russia is not interested in major war, but Russia is also not interested in solving the conflict that would reduce its leverage over Armenia and Azerbaijan.</li></ul><p><strong>A view from Turkey</strong></p><ul><li>It is highly unlikely that Turkey encouraged and/or endorsed Aliyev&rsquo;s actions leading to the 4-day war. Erdogan&rsquo;s subsequent reaction (in support of the Azerbaijan&rsquo;s moves) has to do more with the domestic politics. While the &ldquo;two-countries-one-nation&rdquo; slogan is often used, there are many disagreements between Turkey and Azerbaijan over key issues (see Valday paper by Sergey Markedonov). With respect to the military partnership, Turkey burned its hands badly over Georgia-Russia war in 2008 and would not want a repeat of that in a different context. It is advisable not to take the &ldquo;news&rdquo; that Turkey is behind the Azeri belligerence at face value; applying a dose of skepticism can go a long way in preserving the (limited) gains made in relations between Turkey and Armenia in recent years.</li><li>It is not inconceivable that Turkey would welcome a possible peacekeeper deployment by Russia in Artsakh, since from Turkey&rsquo;s standpoint this will bring an element of stability in the newly erupted conflict. However, this would be very hard for Russia to pull off, because Armenia is a part of the CSTO treaty organization, while Azerbaijan is not. Russia&rsquo;s attempt to do this via the UN will face Turkey&rsquo;s resistance. However, there is a clear understanding that Azerbaijan increasingly needs Russia, inter alia precisely because of the Russia-Turkey conflict in Iraq and Syria since November 2015. Lastly, due to the lessons that Turkey had drawn from Syria, Turkey does not intend to compete with Russia in the Caucasus.</li><li>Regarding the Turkey&rsquo;s direct involvement in the conflict, except for a case of a direct attack on Turkey, this is highly unlikely. In reality, the NATO will violently discourage Turkey from becoming involved in any military sense, for reasons including the Russian presence a few kilometers away from the Turkish border.</li><li>Putin did to Turkey what Joseph Stalin did in April 1945: he pushed Turkey in the arms of the West. The challenge here that the establishment and the current leadership of Turkey view these things differently.</li><li>From a strategic point of view, Russia messed-up completely Turkey&rsquo;s foreign policy, which led to a near complete loss of markets for Turkey (i.e., all except the EU). The only one that is left is the 90 km corridor from Turkey to the Caspian Sea and then to the Central Asia, as all other routes have been closed by Russia. The focus of the Turkish establishment will be to maintain the life of this corridor.</li></ul>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 695, 1434, 'und', 0, 'Tatevik Khudinyan interned with PFA in Spring of 2016. She holds a Bachelors degree in International Relations from Ohio Wesleyan University and will be pursuing her graduate studies at University College London in the Fall of 2016. While at PFA ,Tatevik helped organize events and contributed to PFA blog. ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'profile', 0, 696, 1435, 'und', 0, 'Ani Harutyunyan is a Research Analyst at the AidData, and a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Theory & Practice of International Relations at the College of William & Mary. Prior to that, Ani was a researcher at LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance at KU Leuven, and has also worked with the World bank, International Monetary Fund, and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Ani Harutyunyan holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Leuven and Southern Methodist University. Her doctoral research, focusing on issues in international development and long-run economic growth, has been presented in numerous conferences worldwide and published in high-impact academic journals. You can learn more about Ani’s research and background from her personal website at www.AniHarutyunyan.com.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'home_page_feature', 0, 698, 1438, 'und', 0, 'Conservative estimates show that the companies involved in importing wheat and selling flour on the Armenian market charge approximately double what it costs them to import, transport, mill, and sell the wheat/wheat flour.', '', NULL),
('node', 'home_page_feature', 0, 698, 1439, 'und', 0, 'Conservative estimates show that the companies involved in importing wheat and selling flour on the Armenian market charge approximately double what it costs them to import, transport, mill, and sell the wheat/wheat flour.', '', NULL),
('node', 'home_page_feature', 0, 698, 1440, 'und', 0, 'Conservative estimates show that the companies involved in importing wheat and selling flour on the Armenian market charge approximately double what it costs them to import, transport, mill, and sell the wheat/wheat flour.', '', NULL),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 699, 1441, 'und', 0, 'The corrupt and criminal regime of Serge Sargsyan and his partners have exhausted all the means and avenues for peaceful and legitimate development processes in Armenia. For years they have used election fraud, political oppression, and physical violence to maintain their grip on power and amass humongous personal wealth. Today\'s action by a group of civil leaders and former freedom fighters is merely an outcome of these policies and a reflection of absence of alternative ways to stop the destruction of the economy and prevent future military defeats. \r\n\r\nWe, therefore, put the responsibility for the events at Erebuni Police Department in Yerevan in early hours of July 17 on the regime in Yerevan and call upon people of Armenia to use their Constitutional right to impose a change of the country\'s governing system. \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 699, 1442, 'und', 0, 'The corrupt and criminal regime of Serge Sargsyan and his partners have exhausted all the means and avenues for peaceful and legitimate development processes in Armenia. For years they have used election fraud, political oppression, and physical violence to maintain their grip on power and amass humongous personal wealth. Today\'s action by a group of civil leaders and former freedom fighters is merely an outcome of these policies and a reflection of absence of alternative ways to stop the destruction of the economy and prevent future military defeats. \r\n\r\nWe, therefore, put the responsibility for the events at Erebuni Police Department in Yerevan in early hours of July 17 on the regime in Yerevan and call upon people of Armenia to use their Constitutional right to impose a change of the country\'s governing system. \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 699, 1443, 'und', 0, 'July 18, 2016\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nThe corrupt and criminal regime of Serge Sargsyan and his partners have exhausted all the means and avenues for peaceful and legitimate development processes in Armenia. For years they have used election fraud, political oppression, and physical violence to maintain their grip on power and amass humongous personal wealth. Today\'s action by a group of civil leaders and former freedom fighters is merely an outcome of these policies and a reflection of absence of alternative ways to stop the destruction of the economy and prevent future military defeats. \r\n\r\nWe, therefore, put the responsibility for the events at Erebuni Police Department in Yerevan in early hours of July 17 on the regime in Yerevan and call upon people of Armenia to use their Constitutional right to impose a change of the country\'s governing system. \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 699, 1444, 'und', 0, 'July 18, 2016\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nThe corrupt and criminal regime of Serge Sargsyan and his partners have exhausted all the means and avenues for peaceful and legitimate development processes in Armenia. For years they have used election fraud, political oppression, and physical violence to maintain their grip on power and amass humongous personal wealth. Yesterday\'s action by a group of civil leaders and former freedom fighters is merely an outcome of these policies and a reflection of absence of alternative ways to stop the destruction of the economy and prevent future military defeats. \r\n\r\nWe, therefore, put the responsibility for the events at Erebuni Police Station in Yerevan in early hours of July 17 on the regime in Yerevan and call upon people of Armenia to use their Constitutional right to impose a change of the country\'s governing system. \r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'blog_entry', 0, 700, 1445, 'und', 0, 'At early hours of July 17, a group of gunmen attacked a large police compound in Erebuni district of Yerevan and took several police officers hostage. All hostages were subsequently released within days in a show of good will, including a general, deputy police chief of Armenia, and a colonel, deputy chief of Yerevan police. One senior police officer was killed in a shootout, having reportedly fired nine bullets at the attackers despite repeated warnings to cease fire.', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'home_page_feature', 0, 702, 1449, 'und', 0, 'At early hours of July 17, a group of gunmen attacked a large police compound in Erebuni district of Yerevan and took several police officers hostage. ', '', NULL),
('node', 'home_page_feature', 0, 702, 1576, 'und', 0, 'At early hours of July 17, a group of gunmen took control over a large police compound in Erebuni district of Yerevan and took several police officers hostage. ', '', NULL),
('node', 'profile', 0, 703, 1450, 'und', 0, 'Davit Davtyan is the founder and CEO of Arizet Labs, an Atlanta based start-up that provides Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions for research analysts and investment professionals. Prior to that, Davit spent four years at Cornerstone Investment Partners as US equity research analyst and then as the Director of Systems Engineering. Prior to moving to the US, Davit was Head of Group and Senior R&D Developer at HPL and Synopsys, Armenia. He lectured on Application Design and Operation Systems at Yerevan State University, department of Applied Mathematics. Davit holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and MS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Yerevan State University. ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'event', 0, 704, 1451, 'und', 0, '<p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Washington, DC.&mdash;</span>On September 6, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia held a <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/photo/geopolitical-implications-pro-democracy-movement-armenia-what%E2%80%99s-stake-us\">discussion on &quot;Geopolitical Implications of Pro-Democracy Movement in Armenia: What&#39;s at Stake for the US?&quot;</a></strong> at the George Washington University&#39;s School of Law that brought together prominent experts and participants from think tanks, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the Armenian community of greater Washington area. Below is a summary of the discussion that transpired.<span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">&nbsp;</span></p><h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Summary of the Discussion</h5><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Background</strong></p><p>Armenia is caught in a perfect storm of domestic and foreign policy crises that have been in the making for well over a decade. For years, the national security threats over the physical survival of Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) have forced ordinary Armenians to tolerate corruption and mismanagement of successive governments in the name of security and stability. However, this has come at a cost of entrenchment of a deep oligarchic system (incorporating the members of political elite unchanged since independence in 1991) and has turned Armenia into perhaps the most disappointing case of the former Soviet Union (despite the promising start).</p><p>The current oligarchic system, ubiquitous corruption, and the resulting economic hardship have led to mass exodus (nearly half of the population emigrated since 1991) and undermines the very national security of Armenia. After two contested presidential elections, in December 2015 Serge Sargysan presided over a referendum to transform Armenia from a presidential into a parliamentary republic, potentially allowing him to rule the country as a prime minister indefinitely. In sum, Armenia is moving along an unenviable path of steady erosion of democratic and economic freedoms.</p><p>Public protest against Sargysan&rsquo;s rule took a dramatic turn in July during the events in Yerevan. These were notable not only for their apparently broad public support, but also their anti-Russian tone (see below). It is possible that widespread political instability in Armenia and the South Caucasus could develop into a stronger protest movement as the population is dissatisfied with a lack of economic progress, corruption, and shrinking liberties. In turn, this may lead to further crackdowns by the government and instability.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Russia&rsquo;s Role</strong></p><p>Initially, it may have been the Turkish threat that has pushed Armenia into the arms of Russia following Armenia&rsquo;s independence in 1991. However, the political elite has abused this card over the years, using it to manipulate the public opinion. This has gradually led to Russia gaining control over Armenia and keeping it politically weak, internally divided and economically dependent. This has provided a perfect cover for the Armenian ruling elite to move toward more autocratic rule at home.</p><p>Following the U-turn on its EU integration plans in September 2013 and rapid accession into the Russia-led Eurasian Union, Armenia has locked itself in an asymmetric relationship with Russia, allowing Moscow to dictate the terms of everything of consequence.</p><p><em>Political and economic arm-twisting</em></p><p>It looks increasingly obvious that Russia is aiming to exert political control in the region as it did during the Tsarist Empire and the Soviet Union. Doing so involves undermining Armenia&rsquo;s economic self-sufficiency, creating military insecurity, and keeping political control in the hands of strongmen, who are either beholden to Putin or sympathetic to his broader agenda.</p><p>Russia is taking advantage of the virtual absence of the US and EU in the South Caucasus to tighten its grip on Armenia and Azerbaijan and encircling Georgia, which has been making significant progress with its EU and NATO integration in recent years.</p><p>The grooming of an oligarchy and tolerating Russia&rsquo;s overly assertive policies towards Armenia for the sake of security and economic wellbeing may have backfired. Armenia is suffering from very high rates of poverty, while the threat of a new large-scale war is the highest since 1994 when the ceasefire was signed.</p><p><em>Military influence</em></p><p>Russia has maintained a large military base in Armenia and its formal role is increasing. In June, the Armenian parliament ratified an agreement to create a joint Russian-Armenian air defense system, thus allowing Russia to take the control over Armenia&rsquo;s air defense. Furthermore, its arms trading has been instrumental in undermining the military balance of power between Armenia and Azerbaijan since 2013 in favor of Azerbaijan. This may have emboldened Azerbaijan to stage a large scale attack and the &ldquo;4-day&rdquo; war in April 2016, claiming hundreds of lives on both sides.</p><p><em>Nagorno Karabakh </em></p><p>Events taking place in Armenia and the NK today should be viewed in conjunction with Syrian and Eastern Ukrainian conflicts, as parts of Russia&rsquo;s geopolitical agenda to use conflicts as levers on the West. Russia is keen to have a lead role in the NK conflict resolution process, except it is not seeking a conflict resolution but management to expand its influence and eventually the Russian-led Eurasia Union in the South Caucasus. Russia&rsquo;s interests in NK mean perpetuating the conflict or resolving it in a manner that will leave Armenia without defensible borders and, therefore, more dependent on Russia.</p><p>Since April, Russia has been involved in a shuttle diplomacy, to advance its own version of the conflict management&mdash;previously known as &ldquo;Madrid Principles.&rdquo; which Russia succeeded in modifying into &ldquo;Kazan Principles&rdquo;&mdash;whereby the Armenian side will transfer control of five regions to Azerbaijan in return for a temporary status for the NK. This is an attractive solution for Azerbaijan, which has tried and thus far failed to regain NK with military means.</p><p>In addition, Russia has made it clear that Azerbaijan needs to agree to the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in NK, which will tighten Moscow&rsquo;s control over Armenia as well as Azerbaijan. If the Armenian side fails to comply with the plan, Azerbaijan would be less constrained by Russia to launch another military campaign to change the status quo in NK.</p><p><em>The changing perceptions</em></p><p>For the first time since Armenia&rsquo;s independence there is a strong drive among ordinary Armenians to revisit the country&rsquo;s geopolitical orientation. The April war became a watershed moment for ordinary Armenians, prompting them to reassess their long-held views on partnership with Russia and the oligarchy. Russia&rsquo;s heavy-handed policy towards Armenia and neglect of its developmental and security needs led to an unprecedented anti&ndash;Russian sentiment and triggered a debate on possible Euro-Atlantic integration.</p><p>Many ordinary Armenians are losing faith in Russia as an ally, which provides a massive amount of the most modern armament to Azerbaijan but was slow to deliver a small shipment of armament to Armenia. They are losing faith in Russia as an economic partner realizing that Moscow sells its natural gas to Armenia for higher rate than to Ukraine, while barring Armenia from buying gas from the neighboring Iran. Finally, they are losing faith in Russia as a developmental partner, where many ordinary Armenians are critical of the Kremlin&rsquo;s support for successive nepotistic and corrupt governments.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The United States&rsquo; Interests</strong></p><p>The desire of Russia to reassert and maintain its influence in the region is critical both for understanding developments in the region and the strategic interests of the United States. So where do the recent developments leave the interests of the United States?</p><p>First, the South Caucasus are a long way from the United States, both in terms of geography and the focus of American policymakers. This is a reality, at least with the current US administration and its stated priorities in Asia and the Middle East. However, this is an oversight and more attention should be given to the region for two reasons:</p><ol><li>Interests of the US are not served by the reestablishment of the Soviet Union by another name. The proliferation of autocratic regimes in the mold of Putin&mdash;dictatorships of Lukashenko in Belarus or Nazarbayev in Kazakhstan&mdash;which are dependent on Putin&rsquo;s Russia for their hold on power is a testament to that.&nbsp;</li><li>The natural focus in the US on events in Ukraine (and the pessimistic scenarios about the vulnerabilities of the Baltic countries) ignore the strategic reality that there are closer, more strategically significant, and far more vulnerable states in the South Caucasus. If Russia wants to push its borders to the extent of the Soviet Union or imperial Russia, continuing to undermine the sovereignty of Armenia and Georgia is far less difficult than pressuring NATO members like Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania.</li></ol><p>In addition to the <em>realist </em>reasons, there is a more <em>idealistic </em>reason. Democratic reform in countries like Armenia is a good thing for the United States, while a path towards soft dictatorship, totalitarianism, and economic and diplomatic dependence on Putin&rsquo;s Russia is not. The US should support free and fair elections and free markets, reject the referendums that support one-party or one-man rule, and help fight systemic corruption and oligarchy. Apart from the reasons that it shares these values, the US should pursue these objectives (in Armenia and the region) because democratic nations are less likely to fall under the control of Putin&rsquo;s Russia.</p><p>Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US invested significant development funds in Armenia, in per capita terms exceeding the funding made available to Ukraine. However, Armenia chose a different path largely due to a greater degree of dependence on Russia. Ironically, at present, the State Department may be comfortable with the status quo of Russian&ndash;Armenian relationship as it becomes one less issue for the administration to worry about. However, if the pro-democracy movement in Armenia gets stronger, it will have chances of changing the geopolitical landscape of the region and get the attention it deserves.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Going Forward</strong></p><p>Armenia and the region are in a vulnerable position. Therefore, better policies by the West should be put in place so that an explosive regional crisis can be averted. Russia is unlikely to change its expansionist policy in the region any time soon, suggesting that the people of Armenia are facing an uphill battle in their fight for a better system of governance.</p><p>The systemic corruption is undermining Armenia&rsquo;s path toward self-sustainability. However, good governance&mdash;the only factor that drives economic progress across the world&mdash;could come only from a democratic society.</p><p>The United States should engage more actively in the region to support democratic forces in Armenia and to hold the current government to account more energetically. The half-hearted condemnations of the practices of the Sargsyan regime, or worse, of silence, in the face of its failures is no longer sufficient.</p><p>An internationally secured and mutually acceptable compromise on NK may break Armenia free of Russia&rsquo;s stranglehold. However, as claims of beheadings, mutilation of elderly and mortar attacks on school children by Azerbaijan&rsquo;s armed forces during the April war emerge, the enforcement of unilateral concessions (in return for an intangible status for the region or some vague security guarantees for the Armenian population) is unrealistic at best.</p><p>Finally, a possible normalization of relations with Turkey may offer another channel for reducing reliance on Russia. In principle, by addressing the problems with Turkey, Armenia can decrease its dependence on Russia, since the threat from Turkey keeps Armenia under Russia&#39;s influence and &quot;protection&quot;. Earlier attempts by Turkey to improve its relations with Armenia were torpedoed by Azerbaijan, which threatened to undermine Turkish-Azeri relations, which Turkey was not ready for. However, the recent domestic developments in Turkey and its rapprochement with Russia will likely undermine the prospects of Turkish-Armenia reconciliation and will not change the current status quo. It is in the US interests to continue to encourage Turkey to find a way forward with Armenia even at the expense of its relationship with Azerbaijan.</p><p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Pictures from the event are available in our <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/geopolitical-implications-pro-democracy-movement-armenia-0\">Photo Gallery</a></strong>. Voice of America&#39;s coverage of the event can be viewed <strong><a href=\"http://www.amerikayidzayn.com/a/3497940.html\">here</a></strong>.</span></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1453, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</div><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1454, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><div><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</div><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1455, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1456, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1457, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1458, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1459, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1460, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1461, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1462, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1463, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1464, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1465, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; International Federation for Human Rights</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Amnesty International</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Council of Europe&#39;s Human Rights Commissioner</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1472, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</p><p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</p><p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</p><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; International Federation for Human Rights</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Amnesty International</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Council of Europe&#39;s Human Rights Commissioner</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 706, 1473, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />September 13, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Statement in Connection with the Arrest and Detention of PFA Executive Board Member Garo Yegnukian</strong></p><p>We, the undersigned members of Academic and Executive Boards of Policy Forum Armenia (PFA), are gravely concerned that Mr. Yegnukian&mdash;a member of PFA&rsquo;s Executive Board, a repatriated Diaspora activist, intellectual, and father of five&mdash;continues to be held in pre-trial detention since July 19, 2016 despite the nature of charges brought against him and deteriorating health conditions.</p><p>As we learn from his attorney, Mr. Yegnukian is being accused by the investigative body for engaging in the following four activities:</p><ol><li>On July 18, 2016, after hearing from the members of the armed group &ldquo;Daredevils of Sassoon&rdquo; that the police were moving armored vehicles toward the occupied buildings, Mr. Yegnukian publicized that fact on Facebook;</li><li>On July 19, 2016, he encouraged the movement of protesters from Liberty Square toward the area close to the police compound occupied by the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;;</li><li>Mr. Yegnukian spread disinformation (suggesting that food provided to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo; by the police might be poisoned), thus discrediting the police; and</li><li>He <em>aspired</em> to provide radio communication from outside to the &ldquo;Daredevils&rdquo;.</li></ol><p>It is our understanding that these activities can in no way be construed as criminal, including under the Armenian legal code. Such charges undermine the individual&rsquo;s right of free speech and reinforce the atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Armenia. Sadly, these trumped-up charges are merely an excuse for Armenia&rsquo;s law-enforcers to exercise the much abused right to pre-trial detention used extensively to stifle political dissent.</p><p>Having said this, <strong>we join the Armenian Bar Association&rsquo;s Armenian Rights Watch Committee</strong> in condemning the unlawful pre-trial detention of peaceful protesters in Yerevan, including that of Mr. Yegnukian. Our colleague&mdash;a well-known civil activist, who contributed so much to Armenia&rsquo;s independence since late-1980s&mdash;should be released from prison immediately pending trial, if one ever takes place considering the nature of the above charges.</p><p><strong>We call upon Armenia&rsquo;s bilateral and multilateral partners</strong> to impress upon the regime of Serge Sargsyan that systematic repressions of political activists and dissidents cannot be tolerated and that the empty rhetoric about &ldquo;political reform&rdquo; will no longer be acceptable.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>We stand with the people of Armenia</strong> as they continue their struggle for a more inclusive political system and better governance, against massive election fraud, systemic corruption, and oligarchy, factors that have prevented the economy from growing and weakened its defenses against external threats.</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/gregory-aftandilian\">Gregory Aftandilian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/vladimir-airapetian\">Vladimir Airapetian</a>, Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/viken-attarian\">Viken Attarian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/hrach-gregorian\">Hrach Gregorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/annalee-saxenian\">AnnaLee Saxenian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Academic Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/person/david_grigorian\">David Grigorian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board, Co-founder</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/lusine-jagharian\">Lusine Jagharian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/profile/zaven-kalayjian\">Zaven Kalayjian</a>,&nbsp;Member of the Executive Board</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Cc: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The United Stated Embassy in Armenia</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Human Rights Watch</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Freedom House</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; International Federation for Human Rights</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Amnesty International</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Council of Europe&#39;s Human Rights Commissioner</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1501, 'und', 0, '<p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via PFA website.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1502, 'und', 0, '<p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via PFA website.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1503, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via PFA website.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1504, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via PFA website.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1506, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via <a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">PFA website</a>.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1507, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">PFA website</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1508, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">PFA website</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1509, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">PFA website</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 740, 1510, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release<br />October 3, 2016<br /> Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br />Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>The anti-regime protests of the past 18 months in Armenia were accompanied by excessive use of police force, widespread crackdown on civil and opposition leaders, and declining standards of legal due process, with discretionary use of pre-trial detention. The ensuing police brutality, unseen since the events of March 2008, and a growing number of political prisoners will have long-lasting implications for Armenia both internally and abroad and provide a poor backdrop for the <strong><a href=\"http://www.invest-armenia.com/\">international investment forum</a></strong> scheduled for October 10 in New York City.</p><p>To raise the international community&rsquo;s awareness of Armenia&rsquo;s deteriorating human rights conditions and discuss approaches to preventing the country&rsquo;s slide into a police state, Policy Forum Armenia (PFA) will hold a panel discussion on October 13, 2016. The participants&mdash;senior practitioners and academics from George Washington University Law School, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and the United States Agency for International Development&mdash;will assess the trends and current conditions on the ground in areas of human right and the rule of law and discuss potential policy actions going forward.</p><p>More details are available via <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">PFA website</a></strong>.</p><p><strong>Policy Forum Armenia</strong> is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'event', 0, 741, 1505, 'und', 0, '<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">&nbsp;</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion on <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/photo/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">&quot;Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Armenia: &nbsp;Police Brutality, Political Prisoners, and (Potential) International Response&quot;</a></strong>, which&nbsp;brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School. The following is a summary of the discussion that followed.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><hr /><p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Visit our&nbsp;multimedia page&nbsp;for&nbsp;</span><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\">photos</a></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/site-page/video\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none;\">videos</a></strong><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">&nbsp;from the event.&nbsp;</span></p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1525, 'und', 0, 'For Immediate Release\r\nOctober 16, 2016\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nOn October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School. \r\n\r\nThe panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia’s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region. \r\n\r\nRegarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support—in a “Robin Hood” effect—an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.\r\n\r\nThe panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.\r\n\r\nThe panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide “who stays and who goes.” \r\n\r\nThe panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement.  It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.\r\n\r\nAt least 40 individuals—including protest leaders—have been charged with organizing “mass disorder”, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan.  \r\n\r\nRelated to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth.  \r\n\r\nThe panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes. \r\n\r\nThe panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender’s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country.  ', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1526, 'und', 0, '<p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1527, 'und', 0, '<p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1528, 'und', 0, '<p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1529, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1530, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1531, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The &nbsp;agenda is available from the <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">event&#39;s website</a></strong>. Visit our <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong> for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1532, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The &nbsp;agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1533, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The &nbsp;agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1534, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1535, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1536, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>View presentations by:</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Avetik Ishkhanyan (Armenia Helsinki Committee) and Varuzhan Hoktanyan (Transparency International)</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Jane Buchanan (Human Rights Watch)</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Miriam Lanskoy (National Endowment for Democracy)</p><p>&nbsp; &nbsp; Hasmik Hakobyan (American Bar Association&#39;s Rule of Law Initiative)</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1537, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes in Armenia is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1543, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/event/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">here</a></strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html');
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('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1545, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<strong>here</strong>. Visit our&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">multimedia page</a></strong>&nbsp;for photos from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1546, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a panel discussion that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>The panel&#39;s agenda is available&nbsp;<a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/photo/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\"><strong>here</strong></a>. Visit our&nbsp;multimedia page&nbsp;for <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">photos</a></strong>&nbsp;and <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/site-page/video\">videos</a></strong> from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 756, 1547, 'und', 0, '<p><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">For Immediate Release</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">October 16, 2016</span><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Contact:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\" /><span style=\"color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">Web:&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 67, 111); text-decoration: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>On October 13, 2016, Policy Forum Armenia hosted a <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/photo/human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia-police-brutality-political-prisoners-and-potential\">panel discussion on human rights</a></strong> that brought together speakers from the Armenian Helsinki Committee, Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, Human Rights Watch, National Endowment for Democracy, American Bar Association, and George Washington University Law School.</p><p>The panelists highlighted the deteriorating human rights and rule-of-law conditions in Armenia in recent years. The shortcomings of the constitutional framework, which allows ultimate concentration of power in the hands of a single individual, and corruption were seen as key factors behind the trend. The latter is exacerbated by its systemic nature, convergence between the political and business elites, and the lack of independent judiciary. The panelists also noted the importance of the geopolitical context, particularly Armenia&rsquo;s dependence on Russia, for understanding the conditions on the ground. The 4-day war in April left many in the society unsure about the security situation going forward and ability of Russia to act as a guarantor of stability in the region.</p><p>Regarding the July events that followed, the panelists noted the outpouring of the popular support&mdash;in a &ldquo;Robin Hood&rdquo; effect&mdash;an outcome of frustration with poor economic and social conditions as well as the lack of political will to fight against corruption and undertake reform.</p><p>The panel stressed that the accompanying protests were overwhelmingly peaceful. Instead, police used excessive force (especially on July 29), giving no warning to disperse the crowd, other than the punitive and indiscriminate attacks and beatings. Singling out journalists was especially troubling and the use of police in civilian clothing raises the issue of accountability. Panelists noted that these events have been overwhelmingly condemned by the international community.</p><p>The panel called for the actions of the police in July 2016 in Yerevan to be thoroughly investigated. It noted that in the past investigations rarely led to any prosecutions. However, the panelists stated that mere dismissals of officials accused in wrong-doings is insufficient to restore public trust and ensure true accountability. Besides, it leaves an impression that the power is concentrated in a few hands, who can decide &ldquo;who stays and who goes.&rdquo;</p><p>The panel condemned the beatings and inhumane treatment of protesters following their arbitrary detention, including depriving detainees of food, medication as well as access to legal help and family members for extended periods of time, against the legal requirement. &nbsp;It noted that international best practice requires that peaceful protests be tolerated, even if they are unauthorized.</p><p>At least 40 individuals&mdash;including protest leaders&mdash;have been charged with organizing &ldquo;mass disorder&rdquo;, a charge that carries a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Panelists noted that these charges are disproportionate and unjustified, given that the protests were non-violent. The number of political prisoners in Armenia has increased significantly in connection with the July events, the most prominent of them being Shant Harutyunyan, Hayk Kyureghyan, Andreas Ghukasyan, Jirayr Sefilian, Garo Yegnukian, and Gevorg Safaryan. &nbsp;</p><p>Related to this, the panel criticized the sweeping use of pre-trial detention by the law-enforcement, and noted that in the (pre-trial) hearings the prosecutors did not provide sufficient facts that would support the need for custody. The panelists called on the authorities to review these decisions and replace them with the least restrictive measures, consistent with charges brought forth. &nbsp;</p><p>The panelists stressed that the July events provide an alarming backdrop for the April 2017 election in Armenia, where several issues remain unaddressed and the low trust towards political parties and processes is widespread. They noted that one of the ways the Diaspora can help is by taking part in the election monitoring effort on the ground and helping to analyze election outcomes.</p><p>The panel concluded that Armenia has a strong, active, and educated civil society willing to fight for its rights and push for a change. However, their actions remain isolated and often the technical and material support is lacking to make their efforts more effective. On a positive side, the formation of the Chamber of Advocates and the Public Defender&rsquo;s office were seen as positive developments, aiding the protection of human rights and individual freedoms in the country. &nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* &nbsp;* &nbsp;* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is an independent non-profit association aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and through that helping to shape public policy in Armenia.</p><p>Visit our&nbsp;multimedia page&nbsp;for <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/media-gallery/panel-human-rights-and-rule-law-armenia\">photos</a></strong>&nbsp;and <strong><a href=\"https://www.pf-armenia.org/site-page/video\">videos</a></strong> from the event.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 758, 1548, 'und', 0, 'December 6, 2016  \r\nFor Immediate Release\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nDecember 6, 2016 marks the first anniversary of the 2015 Constitutional Referendum in Armenia. On that date, citizens of Armenia went to the polling stations to express their views on constitutional amendments proposed by the executive branch, aimed at transforming the country’s governance structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system.\r\n \r\nThe referendum was seen by critics as an avenue for perpetuating the rule of Serge Sargsyan—who occupies the president’s office following two fraudulent elections and cannot run for a third term—by making him Prime Minister with stronger powers for an indefinite period. Sargsyan’s rule since 2008 has been marred by an unprecedented degree of systemic corruption, cronyism, and poor economic/developmental decision-making, providing ground for skepticism toward the constitutional reforms package spearheaded by him.\r\n \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia’s Special Report “Armenia’s 2015 Constitutional Referendum” issued today provides evidence of systemic election fraud that took place on December 6, 2015. Specifically, it provides detailed statistical and econometric evidence, which can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\n•	The officially reported voter turnout is unrealistically high and grossly misrepresents the reality on the ground.\r\n•	Statistical distribution of the Yes and No votes are highly abnormal. The distribution of the Yes vote is the most anomalous of any pro-government vote cast since 2008.\r\n•	Abnormally high voter turnout benefited the (pro-government) Yes vote.\r\n•	The (artificially inflated) voter turnout is correlated with factors that are highly susceptible to fraud.\r\n•	There exists a sizable and statistically significant “observer effect”, which indicates presence of fraud. \r\n•	The share of invalid ballots is correlated with the (pro-opposition) NO vote, suggesting strategic behavior and fraud. \r\n\r\nInternational and local observers as well as numerous eyewitness accounts and social media reports support our empirical findings, that is, the presence of widespread irregularities and systemic fraud during the Referendum. The integrity of the process was clearly jeopardized and the final outcome did not express the will of people of Armenia.\r\n\r\nAs noted by PFA Executive Board member Dr. Zaven Kalayjian: “Based on the results provided in our report, the Constitutional amendments suggested by Sargsyan administration were in all likelihood rejected by the Armenian voters. Our analysis is consistent with other instances from Armenia’s recent history where the ruling regime has manipulated the polls for its own benefit.” \r\n\r\nThe report serves as a reminder of the degree and sophistication of election fraud in Armenia and a warning that a much stronger monitoring and recount efforts are needed to put a dent in the Sargsyan administration’s election fraud machine to influence an otherwise predictable outcome. While Armenia presents itself as an electoral democracy, the experience of the past quarter century has shown that conventional political mechanisms for change in Armenia are broken. Elections have merely become a tool of authoritarian power holders’ attempts to legitimize their rule. In this regard, PFA welcomes the recent statement by the US Embassy in Yerevan suggesting that the existence of electoral fraud in Armenia is “a matter of political will.”\r\n\r\nThe 4-day war in April and July events in Yerevan demonstrated that the social contract between the Sargsyan administration and people of Armenia is broken. While the population at large has endured substandard social conditions and human rights abuses as the price for peace in Artsakh and some economic growth, it has become clear that the Sargsyan administration is no longer capable of delivering on its part of the bargain. The events also showed that there exist political and societal forces in Armenia, who will go to great lengths to try to stop Armenia’s slide towards dictatorship and total control by Russia. \r\n\r\nMore than a new constitution Armenia needs a new breed of leaders with education, integrity, and vision, who could turn the existing laws into a workable mechanism for providing the good democratic governance required for the development, prosperity, and security of our homeland. The current status quo is unsustainable and will undoubtedly lead to new instability and social upheaval.\r\n\r\n                                                                                    *  *  *\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This Special Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\nWashington, DC', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 758, 1549, 'und', 0, 'December 6, 2016  \r\nFor Immediate Release\r\nContact: forum@pf-armenia.org\r\nWeb: http://www.pf-armenia.org\r\n\r\nDecember 6, 2016 marks the first anniversary of the 2015 Constitutional Referendum in Armenia. On that date, citizens of Armenia went to the polling stations to express their views on constitutional amendments proposed by the executive branch, aimed at transforming the country’s governance structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system.\r\n \r\nThe referendum was seen by critics as an avenue for perpetuating the rule of Serge Sargsyan—who occupies the president’s office following two fraudulent elections and cannot run for a third term—by making him Prime Minister with stronger powers for an indefinite period. Sargsyan’s rule since 2008 has been marred by an unprecedented degree of systemic corruption, cronyism, and poor economic/developmental decision-making, providing ground for skepticism toward the constitutional reforms package spearheaded by him.\r\n \r\nPolicy Forum Armenia’s Special Report “Armenia’s 2015 Constitutional Referendum” issued today provides evidence of systemic election fraud that took place on December 6, 2015. Specifically, it provides detailed statistical and econometric evidence, which can be summarized as follows:\r\n\r\n•	The officially reported voter turnout is unrealistically high and grossly misrepresents the reality on the ground.\r\n•	Statistical distribution of the Yes and No votes are highly abnormal. The distribution of the Yes vote is the most anomalous of any pro-government vote cast since 2008.\r\n•	Abnormally high voter turnout benefited the (pro-government) Yes vote.\r\n•	The (artificially inflated) voter turnout is correlated with factors that are highly susceptible to fraud.\r\n•	There exists a sizable and statistically significant “observer effect”, which indicates presence of fraud. \r\n•	The share of invalid ballots is correlated with the (pro-opposition) NO vote, suggesting strategic behavior and fraud. \r\n\r\nInternational and local observers as well as numerous eyewitness accounts and social media reports support our empirical findings, that is, the presence of widespread irregularities and systemic fraud during the Referendum. The integrity of the process was clearly jeopardized and the final outcome did not express the will of people of Armenia.\r\n\r\nAs noted by PFA Executive Board member Dr. Zaven Kalayjian: “Based on the results provided in our report, the Constitutional amendments suggested by Sargsyan administration were in all likelihood rejected by the Armenian voters. Our analysis is consistent with other instances from Armenia’s recent history where the ruling regime has manipulated the polls for its own benefit.” \r\n\r\nThe report serves as a reminder of the degree and sophistication of election fraud in Armenia and a warning that a much stronger monitoring and recount efforts are needed to put a dent in the Sargsyan administration’s election fraud machine to influence an otherwise predictable outcome. While Armenia presents itself as an electoral democracy, the experience of the past quarter century has shown that conventional political mechanisms for change in Armenia are broken. Elections have merely become a tool of authoritarian power holders’ attempts to legitimize their rule. In this regard, PFA welcomes the recent statement by the US Embassy in Yerevan suggesting that the existence of electoral fraud in Armenia is “a matter of political will.”\r\n\r\nThe 4-day war in April and July events in Yerevan demonstrated that the social contract between the Sargsyan administration and people of Armenia is broken. While the population at large has endured substandard social conditions and human rights abuses as the price for peace in Artsakh and some economic growth, it has become clear that the Sargsyan administration is no longer capable of delivering on its part of the bargain. The events also showed that there exist political and societal forces in Armenia, who will go to great lengths to try to stop Armenia’s slide towards dictatorship and total control by Russia. \r\n\r\nMore than a new constitution Armenia needs a new breed of leaders with education, integrity, and vision, who could turn the existing laws into a workable mechanism for providing the good democratic governance required for the development, prosperity, and security of our homeland. The current status quo is unsustainable and will undoubtedly lead to new instability and social upheaval.\r\n\r\n                                                                                    *  *  *\r\n\r\nPolicy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia\'s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This Special Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports.\r\n\r\n\r\nPFA Executive Board\r\nWashington, DC', '', 'filtered_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 758, 1550, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release</p><p><span style=\"text-align: right;\">December 6, 2016</span></p><p>Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>December 6, 2016 marks the first anniversary of the 2015 Constitutional Referendum in Armenia. On that date, citizens of Armenia went to the polling stations to express their views on constitutional amendments proposed by the executive branch, aimed at transforming the country&rsquo;s governance structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system.&nbsp;</p><p>The referendum was seen by critics as an avenue for perpetuating the rule of Serge Sargsyan&mdash;who occupies the president&rsquo;s office following two fraudulent elections and cannot run for a third term&mdash;by making him Prime Minister with stronger powers for an indefinite period. Sargsyan&rsquo;s rule since 2008 has been marred by an unprecedented degree of systemic corruption, cronyism, and poor economic/developmental decision-making, providing ground for skepticism toward the constitutional reforms package spearheaded by him.</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia&rsquo;s Special Report &ldquo;Armenia&rsquo;s 2015 Constitutional Referendum&rdquo; issued today provides evidence of systemic election fraud that took place on December 6, 2015. Specifically, it provides detailed statistical and econometric evidence, which can be summarized as follows:</p><ul><li>The officially reported voter turnout is unrealistically high and grossly misrepresents the reality on the ground.</li><li>Statistical distribution of the Yes and No votes are highly abnormal. The distribution of the Yes vote is the most anomalous of any pro-government vote cast since 2008.</li><li>Abnormally high voter turnout benefited the (pro-government) Yes vote.</li><li>The (artificially inflated) voter turnout is correlated with factors that are highly susceptible to fraud.</li><li>There exists a sizable and statistically significant &ldquo;observer effect&rdquo;, which indicates presence of fraud.</li><li>The share of invalid ballots is correlated with the (pro-opposition) NO vote, suggesting strategic behavior and fraud.</li></ul><p>International and local observers as well as numerous eyewitness accounts and social media reports support our empirical findings, that is, the presence of widespread irregularities and systemic fraud during the Referendum. The integrity of the process was clearly jeopardized and the final outcome did not express the will of people of Armenia.</p><p>As noted by PFA Executive Board member Dr. Zaven Kalayjian: &ldquo;Based on the results provided in our report, the Constitutional amendments suggested by Sargsyan administration were in all likelihood rejected by the Armenian voters. Our analysis is consistent with other instances from Armenia&rsquo;s recent history where the ruling regime has manipulated the polls for its own benefit.&rdquo; The report serves as a reminder of the degree and sophistication of election fraud in Armenia and a warning that a much stronger monitoring and recount efforts are needed to put a dent in the Sargsyan administration&rsquo;s election fraud machine to influence an otherwise predictable outcome.</p><p>While Armenia presents itself as an electoral democracy, the experience of the past quarter century has shown that conventional political mechanisms for change in Armenia are broken. Elections have merely become a tool of authoritarian power holders&rsquo; attempts to legitimize their rule. In this regard, PFA welcomes the recent statement by the US Embassy in Yerevan suggesting that the existence of electoral fraud in Armenia is &ldquo;a matter of political will.&rdquo;</p><p>The 4-day war in April and July events in Yerevan demonstrated that the social contract between the Sargsyan administration and people of Armenia is broken. While the population at large has endured substandard social conditions and human rights abuses as the price for peace in Artsakh and some economic growth, it has become clear that the Sargsyan administration is no longer capable of delivering on its part of the bargain. The events also showed that there exist political and societal forces in Armenia, who will go to great lengths to try to stop Armenia&rsquo;s slide towards dictatorship and total control by Russia. More than a new constitution Armenia needs a new breed of leaders with education, integrity, and vision, who could turn the existing laws into a workable mechanism for providing the good democratic governance required for the development, prosperity, and security of our homeland. The current status quo is unsustainable and will undoubtedly lead to new instability and social upheaval.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* * *</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This Special Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports. PFA Executive Board Washington, DC</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 758, 1551, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release</p><p><span style=\"text-align: right;\">December 6, 2016</span></p><p>Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>December 6, 2016 marks the first anniversary of the 2015 Constitutional Referendum in Armenia. On that date, citizens of Armenia went to the polling stations to express their views on constitutional amendments proposed by the executive branch, aimed at transforming the country&rsquo;s governance structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system.&nbsp;</p><p>The referendum was seen by critics as an avenue for perpetuating the rule of Serge Sargsyan&mdash;who occupies the president&rsquo;s office following two fraudulent elections and cannot run for a third term&mdash;by making him Prime Minister with stronger powers for an indefinite period. Sargsyan&rsquo;s rule since 2008 has been marred by an unprecedented degree of systemic corruption, cronyism, and poor economic/developmental decision-making, providing ground for skepticism toward the constitutional reforms package spearheaded by him.</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia&rsquo;s Special Report &ldquo;Armenia&rsquo;s 2015 Constitutional Referendum&rdquo; issued today provides evidence of systemic election fraud that took place on December 6, 2015. Specifically, it provides detailed statistical and econometric evidence, which can be summarized as follows:</p><ul><li>The officially reported voter turnout is unrealistically high and grossly misrepresents the reality on the ground.</li><li>Statistical distribution of the Yes and No votes are highly abnormal. The distribution of the Yes vote is the most anomalous of any pro-government vote cast since 2008.</li><li>Abnormally high voter turnout benefited the (pro-government) Yes vote.</li><li>The (artificially inflated) voter turnout is correlated with factors that are highly susceptible to fraud.</li><li>There exists a sizable and statistically significant &ldquo;observer effect&rdquo;, which indicates presence of fraud.</li><li>The share of invalid ballots is correlated with the (pro-opposition) NO vote, suggesting strategic behavior and fraud.</li></ul><p>International and local observers as well as numerous eyewitness accounts and social media reports support our empirical findings, that is, the presence of widespread irregularities and systemic fraud during the Referendum. The integrity of the process was clearly jeopardized and the final outcome did not express the will of people of Armenia.</p><p>As noted by PFA Executive Board member Dr. Zaven Kalayjian: &ldquo;Based on the results provided in our report, the Constitutional amendments suggested by Sargsyan administration were in all likelihood rejected by the Armenian voters. Our analysis is consistent with other instances from Armenia&rsquo;s recent history where the ruling regime has manipulated the polls for its own benefit.&rdquo; The report serves as a reminder of the degree and sophistication of election fraud in Armenia and a warning that a much stronger monitoring and recount efforts are needed to put a dent in the Sargsyan administration&rsquo;s election fraud machine to influence an otherwise predictable outcome.</p><p>While Armenia presents itself as an electoral democracy, the experience of the past quarter century has shown that conventional political mechanisms for change in Armenia are broken. Elections have merely become a tool of authoritarian power holders&rsquo; attempts to legitimize their rule. In this regard, PFA welcomes the recent statement by the US Embassy in Yerevan suggesting that the existence of electoral fraud in Armenia is &ldquo;a matter of political will.&rdquo;</p><p>The 4-day war in April and July events in Yerevan demonstrated that the social contract between the Sargsyan administration and people of Armenia is broken. While the population at large has endured substandard social conditions and human rights abuses as the price for peace in Artsakh and some economic growth, it has become clear that the Sargsyan administration is no longer capable of delivering on its part of the bargain. The events also showed that there exist political and societal forces in Armenia, who will go to great lengths to try to stop Armenia&rsquo;s slide towards dictatorship and total control by Russia.</p><p>More than a new constitution Armenia needs a new breed of leaders with education, integrity, and vision, who could turn the existing laws into a workable mechanism for providing the good democratic governance required for the development, prosperity, and security of our homeland. The current status quo is unsustainable and will undoubtedly lead to new instability and social upheaval.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* * *</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This Special Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports. PFA Executive Board Washington, DC</p>', '', 'full_html'),
('node', 'press_release', 0, 758, 1552, 'und', 0, '<p>For Immediate Release</p><p><span style=\"text-align: right;\">December 6, 2016</span></p><p>Contact:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:forum@pf-armenia.org\">forum@pf-armenia.org</a><br /> Web:&nbsp;<a href=\"http://www.pf-armenia.org/\">http://www.pf-armenia.org</a></p><p>December 6, 2016 marks the first anniversary of the 2015 Constitutional Referendum in Armenia. On that date, citizens of Armenia went to the polling stations to express their views on constitutional amendments proposed by the executive branch, aimed at transforming the country&rsquo;s governance structure from a presidential to a parliamentary system.&nbsp;</p><p>The referendum was seen by critics as an avenue for perpetuating the rule of Serge Sargsyan&mdash;who occupies the president&rsquo;s office following two fraudulent elections and cannot run for a third term&mdash;by making him Prime Minister with stronger powers for an indefinite period. Sargsyan&rsquo;s rule since 2008 has been marred by an unprecedented degree of systemic corruption, cronyism, and poor economic/developmental decision-making, providing ground for skepticism toward the constitutional reforms package spearheaded by him.</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia&rsquo;s Special Report &ldquo;Armenia&rsquo;s 2015 Constitutional Referendum&rdquo; issued today provides evidence of systemic election fraud that took place on December 6, 2015. Specifically, it provides detailed statistical and econometric evidence, which can be summarized as follows:</p><ul><li>The officially reported voter turnout is unrealistically high and grossly misrepresents the reality on the ground.</li><li>Statistical distribution of the Yes and No votes are highly abnormal. The distribution of the Yes vote is the most anomalous of any pro-government vote cast since 2008.</li><li>Abnormally high voter turnout benefited the (pro-government) Yes vote.</li><li>The (artificially inflated) voter turnout is correlated with factors that are highly susceptible to fraud.</li><li>There exists a sizable and statistically significant &ldquo;observer effect&rdquo;, which indicates presence of fraud.</li><li>The share of invalid ballots is correlated with the (pro-opposition) NO vote, suggesting strategic behavior and fraud.</li></ul><p>International and local observers as well as numerous eyewitness accounts and social media reports support our empirical findings, that is, the presence of widespread irregularities and systemic fraud during the Referendum. The integrity of the process was clearly jeopardized and the final outcome did not express the will of people of Armenia.</p><p>As noted by PFA Executive Board member Dr. Zaven Kalayjian: &ldquo;Based on the results provided in our report, the Constitutional amendments suggested by Sargsyan administration were in all likelihood rejected by the Armenian voters. Our analysis is consistent with other instances from Armenia&rsquo;s recent history where the ruling regime has manipulated the polls for its own benefit.&rdquo; The report serves as a reminder of the degree and sophistication of election fraud in Armenia and a warning that a much stronger monitoring and recount efforts are needed to put a dent in the Sargsyan administration&rsquo;s election fraud machine to influence an otherwise predictable outcome.</p><p>While Armenia presents itself as an electoral democracy, the experience of the past quarter century has shown that conventional political mechanisms for change in Armenia are broken. Elections have merely become a tool of authoritarian power holders&rsquo; attempts to legitimize their rule. In this regard, PFA welcomes the recent statement by the US Embassy in Yerevan suggesting that the existence of electoral fraud in Armenia is &ldquo;a matter of political will.&rdquo;</p><p>The 4-day war in April and July events in Yerevan demonstrated that the social contract between the Sargsyan administration and people of Armenia is broken. While the population at large has endured substandard social conditions and human rights abuses as the price for peace in Artsakh and some economic growth, it has become clear that the Sargsyan administration is no longer capable of delivering on its part of the bargain. The events also showed that there exist political and societal forces in Armenia, who will go to great lengths to try to stop Armenia&rsquo;s slide towards dictatorship and total control by Russia.</p><p>More than a new constitution Armenia needs a new breed of leaders with education, integrity, and vision, who could turn the existing laws into a workable mechanism for providing the good democratic governance required for the development, prosperity, and security of our homeland. The current status quo is unsustainable and will undoubtedly lead to new instability and social upheaval.&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">* * *</p><p>Policy Forum Armenia is a 501(c)3 non-profit think tank aimed at strengthening discourse on Armenia&#39;s economic development and national security and, through that, helping to shape public policy in Armenia. This Special Report and other PFA reports, which provide assessments of critical developments taking place in Armenia and the Diaspora, are available via www.pf-armenia.org/reports. PFA Executive Board Washington, DC</p>', '', 'full_html');
