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On December 10 the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs moderated by the Chair Elinar Vardanyan organized parliamentary hearings on the fulfillment of the Resolution N 1900 “On Definition of Political Prisoner” of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) by the Republic of Armenia.

In her opening speech Elinar Vardanyan congratulated the attendees on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. She has noted that the parliamentary hearings will touch upon key issues and reforms of the activities of the sphere and will serve as an important platform and opportunity for raising the most crucial issues.

The Committee member Alexander Arzumanyan in his speech has touched upon the definitions and subdivisions of the Resolution N 1900, the problems of human rights violation, the holding of hearings in Armenia and rendered judgments. The deputy has noted that the term ‘political prisoner’ and the cases of prosecution for political looks in the 21^st century are inadmissible.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Arman Tatoyan has presented the characterizations proposed by different international organizations on the Resolution 1900. The speaker has noted that the definition of ‘political prisoner’ expresses the political viewpoint of the given country’s parliament on this issue.

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Elinar Vardanyan in her final speech thanked those present for the effective discussion, noting that the remarks and recommendations voiced in the speeches and interpellations will be of positive importance for the fulfillment of the Resolution.