RoA Human Rights Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan met with the co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe John Prescott and Georges Clombier who arrived in Armenia on the eve of a fact-finding visit to Yerevan. The two have come to Armenia to review progress relating to the implementation of PACE Resolutions 1609 (2008), 1620 (2008) and 1643 (2009) and the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia. During their meeting with Ombudsman Harutyunyan the co-rapporteurs asked about the upcoming amnesty, issues related to witnesses included in March 1st court cases and the activities of the March 1st Fact Finding Group. The ombudsman told the two CoE officials that the proposed amnesty must be exhaustive in scope and needs to include those now be detained on charges stemming from the events of March 1, 2008. Otherwise, he stated, the amnesty would not assist in the formation of greater tolerance within society. Also on the table for discussion were the numerous complaints the Human Rights Ombudsman's Office has received from witness participating in various March 1st related criminal cases alleging maltreatment and pressure tactics by the state authorities. Mr. Harutyunyan told the co-rapporteurs that the Special Investigative Service and the General Prosecutor’s office have not paid sufficient attention to the issue and, as a result, many have renounced their initial testimony.