At a press conference held earlier today at the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan, the International Federation for Human Rights, in conjunction with the Civil Society Inststitute prsented a joint position paper entitled "Right to a fair trial in the Republic of Armenia: Preliminary conclusions from the observation of the trials ensuing from the March 2008 wave of arrests and from recent changes introduced in Armenian legislation". From June 25-28, 2009 a delegation of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) headed by Ms Souhayr Belhassen, FIDH President is staying in Yerevan. The report was presented today on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in support of the victims of torture.The delegation has also brought before the press the 2009 annual report of The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of FIDH and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The report begins as follows: The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation the Civil Society Institute (CSI) have followed the trials of the individuals arrested in March 2008 in the wake of the violent clashes that took place between police forces and supporters of the political opposition. Our organisations wish to express their concerns atthe numerous and consistent reports of pressure exerted on witnesses to criminal cases that are obviously politically motivated. The use in trials of witness testimonies that were obtained through recourse to unlawful methods violates the principle of a fair trial. FIDH and CSI are equally concerned by certain changes introduced this year in the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. Amendments to the Judicial Code, Criminal ProcedureCode, Administrative Procedure Code and Criminal Code of Armenia came into force on March 1st, 2009. Our organisations denounce some of the new provisions that put underthreat the right of the accused to be tried in his own presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing. For full  report CLICK