The Yerevan Court of First Instance, with Judge Mkhitar Baboyan presiding, rejected the Civilitas Foundation’s complaint requesting that the court require the National Security Service to remove the decision based on which it had initiated a Criminal Case involving the Civilitas Foundation, and its founder, Vartan Oskanian.

“This was a decision that was unfortunately expected, and we will of course appeal all the way to the European Court of Human Rights,” said Civilitas Director Salpi Ghazarian. “The work of Civilitas and CivilNet is being obstructed, delayed, our attention is being diverted in pursuit of phony accusations and artificial claims.”

Further, in response to the statements made in Court by the NSS Investigator, Ghazarian said the following: “The investigator concluded his statement before the Court by claiming that the NSS is conducting its investigation, ‘in order to protect the interests of the Civilitas Foundation.’ This is incomprehensible, unacceptable and a breach of the freedoms that are afforded to non-governmental organizations of all types. How can any government agency decide for itself, that the interests of the Civilitas Foundation or any non-governmental entity have been violated, and decide to defend them? The law on non-governmental organizations makes clear that the operation of a non-governmental organization is regulated by its own by-laws, board and director, and not by a government agency, least of all the National Security Service, carrying out its own agenda.”

Civilitas Founder Vartan Oskanian had appealed to the Court with the same request and was also turned down. He too will appeal.

The Civilitas Foundation