E.C.H.R. FINES ARMENIA 12,000 EUROS IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES' LAWSUIT
The European Court of Human Rights (E.C.H.R.) imposed on Armenia a fine of 12,000 Euros, accusing the authorities of violating the rights of a group of appellants who identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses.
Four Armenian citizens (Artur Adian, Garegin Avetsian, Arutyun Khachaturian, and Vaagn Margarian) filed a lawsuit on 6 December 2011 in the European court against the republic of Armenia in accordance with article 34 of the European Convention on Protection of Human Rights and Basic Liberties. The plaintiffs complained in the E.C.H.R. that their sentences violate the law and the conclusion was based on stereotyped arguments of courts. In May and June 2011 they were summoned for military service, but they did not appear, and instead sent letters to local structures of the armed forces and regional prosecutor's office, refusing to perform military or alternative service. The plaintiffs declared that they were Jehovah's Witnesses and they noted that in studying the law on alternative service they came to the conclusion that according to European standards the prospective [alternative—tr.] service did not have a genuinely civilian character inasmuch as it was supervised by military authorities.
The plaintiffs were found guilty. In 2012 an appellate court ruled their subsequent appeals to be inadmissible. After serving 26-27 months in prison, they were amnestied in 2013. (tr. by PDS, posted 11 November 2017)
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