More civic activism in 2012: Avetyan Case, green campaigns seen as stepping stones in building civil society in Armenia

The year 2012 in Armenia has been marked by a number of initiatives that resulted in consolidation of civil society and a successful outcome of civil campaigns. While problems connected with human rights protection and environmental issues have not decreased in Armenia, civic groups have still managed to make a number of achievements due to their consistent battle.

The greatest civil consolidation took place in June of this year as reaction to an incident in which a military doctor was beaten to death at a restaurant owned by pro-government lawmaker Ruben Hayrapetyan’s family. The man, Vahe Avetyan , a 33-year-old father of two, died in hospital of his severe head injuries 12 days after the beating in which several of his friends also suffered at the hands of men believed to be Hayrapetyan’s bodyguards. The incident angered the civil society sector, stirring a tide of protest demanding that those responsible for the incident, including Hayrapetyan, be punished.  Read more… (655 words)

Armenian News