UNIVERSAL RIGHTS AWARDS

The Universal Rights Awards Ceremony was the first multi-mission initiative to

highlight the contributions of Armenia’s civil rights activists, government officials, and media representatives to the promotion of human rights. 

U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, joined the U.S. Embassy, Counterpart International, the British Embassy, the OSCE, and the EU to honor individuals

working to promote human rights, accountable governance, and free speech in Armenia at the Universal Rights Awards Ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan. 

ÐՀ³աÙÁÝն¹դѳաÝնáõñ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÝն»ñÇ Ñ³աÝնÓÝնÙ³աÝն ³աÛë ÙÇçáó³աéáõÙÁ ÙÇç³ա½զ·³աÛÇÝն ϳաéáõÛóÝն»ñÇ ³աé³աçÇÝն ѳաÙ³աï»Õ Ýն³ա˳աÓ»éÝնáõÃÛáõÝնÝն ¿ñ` áõÕÕí³աÍ

ÐՀ³աÛ³աëï³աÝնáõÙ Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ å³աßïå³աÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն ³աëå³աñ»½զáõÙ ù³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն ³աÏïÇíÇëïÝն»ñÇ, å»ï³աϳաÝն å³աßïáÝնÛ³աÝն»ñÇ áõ ¼ԶÈØ

Ýն»ñϳաÛ³աóáõóÇãÝն»ñÇ ç³աÝնù»ñÇ ·Ýն³աѳաïÙ³աÝնÁ:

²ԱØÜ å»ïù³աñïáõÕ³աñ ÐՀÇɳաñÇ øÉÇÝնÃáÝնÁ Ýն»ñϳա ·ïÝնí»ó ²ԱØÜ ¹դ»ëå³աÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն, ø³աáõÝնûñ÷³աñà ÇÝնûñÝն»ßÝնÉ Ï³ա½զÙ³աÏ»ñåáõÃÛ³աÝն, Ø»Í ´ñÇï³աÝնdzաÛÇ ¹դ»ëå³աÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն, º²ԱÐՀÎ ¢ ºØ ·ñ³աë»ÝնÛ³աÏÝն»ñÇ ÏáÕÙÇó ϳա½զÙ³աÏ»ñåí³աÍ Ñ³աÙÁÝն¹դѳաÝնáõñ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ

Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÝն»ñÇ Ñ³աÝնÓÝնÙ³աÝն ³աñ³աñáÕáõÃÛ³աÝնÁª ٻͳաñ»Éáõ ³աÛÝն ³աÝնѳաïÝն»ñÇÝն, áíù»ñ ѳաÝն¹դ»ë »Ýն ·³աÉÇë ÐՀ³աÛ³աëï³աÝնáõÙ Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ å³աßïå³աÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն, óա÷³աÝնóÇÏ

ϳաé³աí³աñÙ³աÝն áõ ³ա½զ³աï ËáëùÇ ËóաÝնÙ³աÝն ¹դÇñù»ñÇó:

ÐՀ³աÙÁÝն¹դѳաÝնáõñ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇÝն ÝնíÇñí³աÍ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÝն»ñ

The Civic Activism Award recognizes individuals or groups who have made a difference in the civic life of

their communities, demonstrating active participation to support positive change.

ø³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն ³աÏïÇíáõÃÛ³աÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÁ ßÝնáñÑíáõÙ ¿ ³աÝնѳաïÝն»ñÇÝն ϳաÙ ËÙµ»ñÇÝն, áñáÝնù Çñ»Ýնó ³աß˳աï³աÝնùáí

÷á÷áËáõÃÛáõÝն »Ýն µ»ñ»É Çñ»Ýնó ѳաÙ³աÛÝնùÝն»ñÇ ÏÛ³աÝնùáõÙ` óáõó³աµ»ñ»Éáí ³աÏïÇí Ù³աëÝն³աÏóáõÃÛáõÝն ¹դñ³աϳաÝն ÷á÷áËáõÃÛ³աÝն

ѳաëÝն»Éáõ ѳաÙ³աñ:

CIVIC ACTIVISM AWARDø³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն ³աÏïÇíáõÃÛ³աÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏ

The civic activist groups Save Teghut, This City Belongs to Us, and Our City stand up for the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the protection of public property and national wealth.

They are independent, self-organized, non-partisan, non-

sponsored, socially and morally responsible citizens with a goal to contribute to the development of a democratic state, which supports the rule of law and human rights.

In their own words, they want to see a state of self-determined citizens wherein each citizen exercises his or her rights and

freedoms, participates in decision-making, and lives in a healthy and protected environment.

In this regard, the Save Teghut civic initiative will start its long journey to saving Teghut forest.

CIVIC ACTIVISM AWARDEESSave Teghut This City Belongs to Us Our City

°öñÏ»Ýնù »ÕáõïÁ°, °Ø»Ýնù »Ýնù ³աÛë

ù³աÕ³աùÇ ï»ñÁ° ¢ °Ø»ñ ù³աÕ³աùÁ° ù³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն ³աÏïÇíÇëïÝն»ñÇ ËÙµ»ñÁ å³աÛù³աñáõÙ »Ýն ÐՀ³աÛ³աëï³աÝնÇ ê³աÑÙ³աÝն³ա¹դñáõÃÛ³աÝն, Ù»ñ ѳաÝնñ³աÛÇÝն ë»÷³աϳաÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն ¢ ³ա½զ·³աÛÇÝն ѳաñëïáõÃÛ³աÝն å³աßïå³աÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աñ£

Üñ³աÝնù ³աÝնϳաË, ÇÝնùÝնáõñáõÛÝն, ³աÝնÏáõë³աÏó³աϳաÝն, ãÑáí³աÝն³աíáñíáÕ,

ëáódzաɳաå»ë ¢ µ³աñáÛ³աå»ë

å³աï³աë˳աÝն³աïáõ ù³աÕ³աù³աóÇÝն»ñ »Ýն, áíù»ñ Ýնå³աï³աÏ áõÝն»Ýն Ýնå³աëï»É ÅáÕáíñ¹դ³աí³աñ³աϳաÝն å»ïáõÃÛ³աÝն ½զ³աñ·³աóÙ³աÝնÁ, áñÁ Ïå³աßïå³աÝնÇ ûñ»ÝնùÇ ·»ñ³աϳաÛáõÃÛáõÝնÁ ¢ Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÁ£

Æñ»Ýնó Ëáëù»ñáíª Ýնñ³աÝնù áõ½զáõÙ »Ýն ï»ëÝն»É ÇÝնùÝնáñáßí³աÍ ù³աÕ³աù³աóÇÝն»ñÇ å»ïáõÃÛáõÝն, áñï»Õ Ûáõñ³աù³աÝնãÛáõñ

ù³աÕ³աù³աóÇ û·ïíáõÙ ¿ Çñ

Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇó ¢ ³ա½զ³աïáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñÇó, Ù³աëÝն³աÏóáõÙ ¿ áñáßáõÙÝն»ñÇ Ï³աÛ³աóÙ³աÝնÁ ¢ ³աåñáõÙ ¿ ³աéáÕç ¢ å³աßïå³աÝնí³աÍ ÙÇç³աí³աÛñáõÙ£

²ԱÛë ϳաå³աÏóáõÃÛ³աÙµ °öñÏ»Ýնù »ÕáõïÁ° ù³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն Ýն³ա˳աÓ»éÝնáõÃÛáõÝնÁ ÏëÏëÇ Çñ »ñϳաñ ×ճ³աÝն³աå³աñÑÁª ÷ñÏ»Éáõ »ÕáõïÇ ³աÝնï³աéÁ£

ø³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն ³աÏïÇíǽզÙÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աϳաÏÇñÝն»ñÁöñÏ»Ýնù »ÕáõïÁ ²ԱÛë ù³աÕ³աùÁ å³աïϳաÝնáõÙ ¿ Ù»½զ Ø»ñ ù³աÕ³աùÁ

The Media Excellence Award recognizes journalists or media outlets for outstanding, accurate, and unbiased reporting on human rights and social issues, providing

access to credible information and diverse points of view, regardless of social, political, or cultural affiliation.

Èñ³աïí³աϳաÝն ·»ñ³ա½զ³աÝնóáõÃÛ³աÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÁ ßÝնáñÑíáõÙ ¿ Éñ³ա·ñáÕÝն»ñÇÝն ϳաÙ Éñ³աïí³աÙÇçáóÝն»ñÇÝն Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ ¢

ëáódzաɳաϳաÝն ËÝն¹դÇñÝն»ñÇ ³աÏÝն³աéáõ, ×ճß·ñÇï ¢ ³աÝնÏáÕÙÝն³աϳաÉ Éáõë³աµ³աÝնÙ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աñ, áñÝն ³աå³աÑáíáõÙ ¿ ѳաí³աëïÇ ï»Õ»Ï³աïíáõÃÛ³աÝն áõ µ³ա½զÙ³աï»ë³աÏ ï»ë³աÏ»ïÝն»ñÇ

ѳաë³աÝն»ÉÇáõÃÛáõÝն` ³աÝնϳաË ëáódzաɳաϳաÝն, ù³աÕ³աù³աϳաÝն ϳաÙ Ùß³աÏáõóաÛÇÝն å³աïϳաÝն»ÉÇáõÃÛáõÝնÇó:

MEDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDÈñ³աïí³աϳաÝն ·»ñ³ա½զ³աÝնóáõÃÛ³աÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏ

In 2010, Sonya Apresova, Yuri Manvelyan and Armen Melikbekyan co-founded the Independent Journalists’ Network NGO and online news site Epress.am.

As an independent and nonpartisan media outlet, Epress.am has become an

alternative news source committed to unbiased and accurate reporting.

They report on controversial human rights and social issues, and cross-border relations. They strive to report news that goes under-reported to ensure the public has access to credible and impartial information.

This fair and balanced reporting contributes to the public debate in Armenia and to the development of a democratic society.

MEDIA EXCELLENCE AWARDEESEpress.am Sonya Apresova Armen Melikbekyan Yuri Manvelyan

2010 Ãí³աϳաÝնÇÝն êáÝնÛ³ա ²Աåñ»ëáí³աÝն,

ÚáõñÇ Ø³աÝնí»ÉÛ³աÝնÁ ¢ ²ԱñÙ»Ýն Ø»ÉÇùµ»ÏÛ³աÝնÁ ѳաÙ³աï»Õ ÑÇÙÝն³ա¹դñ»óÇÝն ²ԱÝնϳաË Èñ³ա·ñáÕÝն»ñÇ ò³աÝնó ÐՀÎ-Ýն ¢ Epress.am ûÝնɳաÛÝն Éñ³աïí³աϳաÝն ϳաÛùÁ:

ÈÇÝն»Éáí ³աÝնϳաË ¢ ³աÝնÏáõë³աÏó³աϳաÝն Éñ³աïí³աϳաÝն ÙÇçáóª Epress.am-Á ¹դ³աñÓ»É ¿ Éáõñ»ñÇ ³աÛÉÁÝնïñ³աÝնù³աÛÇÝն ³աÕµÛáõñ ¢ ѳաÝնÓÝն ¿ ³աé»É Ù³աïáõó»É ³աÝնÏáÕÙÝն³աϳաÉ ¢ ×ճß·ñÇï Éáõñ»ñ:

Üñ³աÝնù ѳաÕáñ¹դáõÙ »Ýն Ù³աñ¹դáõ

íÇ×ճ³աѳաñáõÛó Çñ³աíáõÝնù»ñÇ ¢ ëáódzաɳաϳաÝն ËÝն¹դÇñÝն»ñÇ, ¢ ÙÇçë³աÑÙ³աÝն³աÛÇÝն ѳաñ³աµ»ñáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñÇ Ù³աëÇÝն: Üñ³աÝնù Ó·ïáõÙ »Ýն ïñ³աÙ³ա¹դñ»É ³աÛÝնåÇëÇ ÝնáñáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñ, áñáÝնù ã»Ýն Éáõë³աµ³աÝնí»É, áñå»ë½զÇ ÑÝն³աñ³աíáñáõÃÛáõÝն ï³աÝն ѳաÝնñáõÃÛ³աÝնÁª ï»Õ»Ï³աÝն³աÉ íëï³աÑ»ÉÇ ¢ ³աÝնÏáÕÙÝն³աϳաÉ ÇÝնýֆáñÙ³աódzաÛÇÝն£

Èáõñ»ñÇ ³աñ¹դ³աñ ¢ ѳաí³աë³աñ³աÏßéí³աÍ

Ù³աïáõóáõÙÁ Ýնå³աëïáõÙ ¿ ÐՀ³աÛ³աëï³աÝնáõ٠ѳաÝնñ³աÛÇÝն µ³աÝն³աí»×ճ»ñÇ ¢ ÅáÕáíñ¹դ³աí³աñ³աϳաÝն ѳաë³աñ³աÏáõÃÛ³աÝն ½զ³աñ·³աóÙ³աÝնÁ£

Èñ³աïí³աϳաÝն ·»ñ³ա½զ³աÝնóáõÃÛ³աÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աϳաÏÇñÝն»ñEpress.am êáÝնÛ³ա ²Աåñ»ëáí³ա ²ԱñÙ»Ýն Ø»ÉÇùµ»ÏÛ³աÝն ÚáõñÇ Ø³աÝնí»ÉÛ³աÝն

The Government Reformer Award honors a government official who has shown vision, courage, and

perseverance in advancing democratic principles and increasing government transparency and accountability.

γաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն µ³աñ»÷áËáõÙÝն»ñÇ ³աé³աç³աï³աñÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÁ ßÝնáñÑíáõÙ ¿ ϳաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն Ýն»ñϳաÛ³աóáõóãÇ, áí áõÝնÇ

ÅáÕáíñ¹դ³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն ëϽզµáõÝնùÝն»ñÁ ½զ³աñ·³աóÝն»Éáõ ¢ ϳաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն óա÷³աÝնóÇÏáõÃÛáõÝնÝն áõ

ѳաßí»ïíáÕ³աϳաÝնáõÃÛáõÝնÁ µ³աñÓñ³աóÝն»Éáõ ï»ëɳաϳաÝն, ѳաÙ³աñÓ³աÏáõÃÛáõÝն ¢ ѳաëï³աï³աϳաÙáõÃÛáõÝն:

GOVERNMENT REFORMER AWARDγաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն µ³աñ»÷áËáõÙÝն»ñÇ ³աé³աç³աï³աñÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏ

Major General Osikyan began his career in the National Assembly's Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues as a legislative specialist. From 1999-2009, he served as Assistant to the Military Prosecutor, Head of the Legal Department of the Government, Deputy Head of the State Taxation Service, Deputy

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, and Deputy Prosecutor-General. In 2006, he was awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal for outstanding public service. Then in 2009, President Sargsyan appointed Osikyan to Deputy Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia. He was responsible for

overseeing the successful implementation of the 2010-2011 Police Reform Program. Osikyan is a graduate of Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. He holds a PhD in Law.

GOVERNMENT REFORMER AWARDEEMajor General Artur Osikyan

¶»Ýն»ñ³աÉ-Ù³աÛáñ úëÇÏÛ³աÝնÁ Çñ ϳաñÇ»ñ³աÝն ëÏë»É ¿ ²Ա½զ·³աÛÇÝն ÄáÕáíÇ Ùßï³աϳաÝն ѳաÝնÓÝն³աÅáÕáíáõÙª áñå»ë å»ï³աϳաÝն ¢ Çñ³աí³աϳաÝն ѳաñó»ñáí Çñ³աí³աϳաÝն Ù³աëÝն³ա·»ï£

1999-2009ÃÃ. Ýն³ա »Õ»É ¿ ÐՀÐՀ è³ա½զÙ³աϳաÝն ¸³աï³ա˳ա½զÇ û·Ýն³աϳաÝն, γաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն Æñ³աí³աµ³աÝն³աϳաÝն í³աñãáõÃÛ³աÝն å»ï, ä»ï³աϳաÝն ѳաñϳաÛÇÝն ͳաé³աÛáõÃÛ³աÝն ջϳաí³աñÇ ï»Õ³աϳաÉ, ä»ï³աϳաÝն »Ï³աÙáõïÝն»ñÇ ÏáÙÇï»Ç ջϳաí³աñÇ

ï»Õ³աϳաÉ ¢ ¶É˳աíáñ ¹դ³աï³ա˳ա½զÇ ï»Õ³աϳաÉ£

2006 Ã. Ýն³ա å³աñ·¢³աïñí»ó í³աñã³աå»ïÇ ßù³աÝնß³աÝնáíª ³աãùÇ ÁÝնÏÝնáÕ Ñ³աë³աñ³աϳաϳաÝն ·áñÍáõÝն»áõÃÛ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աñ£ ÐՀ»ï᪠2009Ã. Ýն³ա˳ա·³աÑ ê. ê³աñ·ëÛ³աÝնÁ úëÇÏÛ³աÝնÇÝն Ýնß³աÝն³աÏ»ó ÐՀÐՀ àëïÇϳաÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն å»ïÇ ï»Õ³աϳաÉ£ ܳա å³աï³աë˳աÝն³աïáõ ¿ñ 2010-2011ÃÃ. áëïÇϳաÝնáõÃÛ³աÝն µ³աñ»÷áËáõÙÝն»ñÇ Íñ³ա·ñÇ Ñ³աçáÕ Çñ³աϳաÝն³աóÙ³աÝն í»ñ³աÑëÏÙ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աñ£

úëÇÏÛ³աÝնÁ ºñ¢³աÝնÇ å»ï³աϳաÝն ѳաÙ³աÉë³աñ³աÝնÇ, ÐՀ³աÛ³աëï³աÝնÇ ²ԱÙ»ñÇÏÛ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աÉë³աñ³աÝնÇ ¢ γաÉÇýֆáñÝնdzաÛÇ Ñ³աÙ³աÉë³աñ³աÝնÇ ´»ñÏÉÇÇ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÇ ¹դåñáóÇ ßñç³աÝն³աí³աñï ¿£ ܳա áõÝնÇ Çñ³աí³ա·ÇïáõÃÛ³աÝն ¹դáÏïáñÇ ÏáãáõÙ£

γաé³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն ´³աñ»÷áËáõÙÝն»ñÇ ²Աé³աç³աï³աñÇ

¶»Ýն»ñ³աÉ-Ù³աÛáñ ²ԱñÃáõñ úëÇÏÛ³աÝն

The Woman of Courage Award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for human rights, social

justice, and women’s equality and advancement. It is an opportunity to bring international attention and support to women who have put their lives or safety on the line

for the good of their society.

Êǽզ³աË ÏÇÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÁ ïñíáõÙ ¿ ϳաÝն³աÝնó, áñáÝնù óáõó³աµ»ñ»É »Ýն µ³աó³աéÇÏ Ëǽզ³աËáõÃÛáõÝն, áõÅ ¢ ³աé³աçÝնáñ¹դáõÃÛáõÝն` å³աßïå³աÝն»Éáí

Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÁ, ëáódzաɳաϳաÝն ³աñ¹դ³աñáõÃÛáõÝնÁ ¢ ϳաÝն³աÝնó ѳաí³աë³աñáõÃÛáõÝնÝն áõ ³աé³աç˳աÕ³աóáõÙÁ: ê³ա ÑÝն³աñ³աíáñáõÃÛáõÝն ¿

ï³աÉÇë ÙÇç³ա½զ·³աÛÇÝն ѳաÝնñáõÃÛ³աÝն áõß³ա¹դñáõÃÛáõÝնÁ Ññ³աíÇñ»É ϳաÝն³աÝնó ѳաÝն¹դ»å ¢ ³աç³աÏó»É Ýնñ³աÝնó, áíù»ñ Çñ»Ýնó ÏÛ³աÝնùÁ ÝնíÇñ»É

ϳաÙ íï³աÝն·»É »Ýն ѳաë³աñ³աÏáõÃÛ³աÝն µ³աñûñáõÃÛ³աÝն ѳաÙ³աñ:

WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARD Êǽզ³աË ÏÇÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աÏ

After her brother’s death from Army hazing practices – covered in the Department of State’s 2010 & 2011 Human Rights Reports – Tsovinar Nazaryan, along with other activists, started the civic initiative Army in Reality to put a spotlight on human rights violations in the Armenian Army.

Nazaryan is a well-respected journalist and recipient of international and local media awards, including Yerevan Press Club’s award with AR TV for best coverage of the 1999 terrorist attack on Parliament that killed several high-level senior officials. In addition to her work with Army in Reality, Nazaryan currently

serves as a communications expert with the Eurasia Partnership Foundation. She has a degree in international relations from Yerevan State University and, as a Muskie Fellow, a masters in mass communications and media from Howard University.

WOMAN OF COURAGE AWARDEETsovinar Nazaryan

Àëï ä»ïù³աñïáõÕ³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն 2010 ¢ 2011Ãà ٳաñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ ½զ»ÏáõÛóǪ ÌáíÇÝն³աñ ܳա½զ³աñÛ³աÝնÁ, µ³աÝն³աÏÇ ½զáñ³աí³աñÅáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñáõÙ »Õµáñ Ù³աÑÇó Ñ»ïá, ³աÛÉ ³աÏïÇíÇëïÝն»ñÇ Ñ»ï ëÏë»ó °´³աÝն³աÏÝն Æñ³աϳաÝնáõÙ° ù³աÕ³աù³աódzաϳաÝն Ýն³ա˳աÓ»éÝնáõÃÛáõÝնÁ, áñÇ Ýնå³աï³աÏÝն ¿ñ áõß³ա¹դñáõÃÛ³աÝն Ï»ÝնïñáÝնáõÙ å³աÑ»É ÐՀ³աÛáó µ³աÝն³աÏáõÙ Ù³աñ¹դáõ Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ áïÝն³աѳաñáõÙÝն»ñÁ£

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Êǽզ³աË ÎÇÝն Ùñó³աÝն³աϳաÏÇñÌáíÇÝն³աñ ܳա½զ³աñÛ³աÝն

The Freedom Defender Award recognizes individuals or NGOs who have faced great challenges and shown

exceptional leadership and courage in advocating for human rights, democracy, and social justice. The award

stresses our commitment to due process of law and the fundamental freedoms that must be respected by

governments around the world.

²Ա½զ³աïáõÃÛ³աÝն å³աßïå³աÝնÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏÁ ßÝնáñÑíáõÙ ¿ ³աÛÝն ³աÝնѳաïÝն»ñÇÝն áõ ѳաë³աñ³աϳաϳաÝն ϳա½զÙ³աÏ»ñåáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñÇÝն, áñáÝնù µ³աËí»Éáí Éáõñç

Ù³աñï³աÑñ³աí»ñÝն»ñÇ, ϳաñáÕ³աÝնáõÙ »Ýն ѳաÝն¹դ»ë µ»ñ»É µ³աó³աéÇÏ Ëǽզ³աËáõÃÛáõÝն áõ í×ճé³աϳաÝնáõÃÛáõÝն` Ç å³աßïå³աÝնáõÃÛáõÝն Ù³աñ¹դáõ

Çñ³աíáõÝնùÝն»ñÇ, ÅáÕáíñ¹դ³աí³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն ¢ ëáódzաɳաϳաÝն ³աñ¹դ³աñáõÃÛ³աÝն: Øñó³աÝն³աÏÇ ßÝնáñÑáõÙÁ ÁÝն¹դ·ÍáõÙ ¿ Ù»ñ ÝնíÇñí³աÍáõÃÛáõÝնÁ ûñ»Ýնùáí

ë³աÑÙ³աÝնí³աÍ å³աïß³ա×ճ ÁÝնóաó³աϳաñ·Ç áõ ÑÇÙÝն³աñ³աñ ³ա½զ³աïáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñÇ Ñ³աÝն¹դ»å, áñåÇëÇù å»ïù ¿ »ñ³աß˳աíáñí»Ýն

³աß˳աñÑÇ µáÉáñ å»ïáõÃÛáõÝնÝն»ñÇ ÏáÕÙÇó:

FREEDOM DEFENDER AWARD²Ա½զ³աïáõÃÛ³աÝն å³աßïå³աÝնÇ Ùñó³աÝն³աÏ

Artur Sakunts is often the first person victims of human rights violations in Armenia turn to for help. Both he and his NGO, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) - Vanadzor, a non-political and non-religious organization, have faced numerous threats because of their work. Since 2001 he has served as Chairman of the NGO, through

which they aim to unite individuals committed to the principles of democracy, tolerance, pluralism and respect for human rights.

Sakunts was an activist of the National Armenian Committee of HCA since 1992. From 1992-1996, he served as a counselor to the mayor of the city of Vanadzor, and from 1996-1997, he was head of the

Territorial Department for regional administration.

He also serves as the President of the Group of Public Observers Conducting Monitoring of Penitentiary Institutions (PI) and Agencies of the RA Ministry of Justice.

FREEDOM DEFENDER AWARDEEArtur Sakunts

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