The US Department of State issued its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2015.

In the section on Armenia, it is noted that, “The most significant human rights problems during the year were officials’ use of government resources to maintain the dominance of the ruling RPA [i.e. the Republican Party of Armenia].” 

As per the report, the other human rights problems in the country include the “use of economic and political power by the country’s elite to enrich supporters and to corrupt the law enforcement and judicial systems, and limited judicial independence.”

“During the December 6 constitutional referendum, local and international observers, members of civil society, and journalists reported witnessing numerous types of electoral violations, including use of administrative resources, multiple voting, ballot-box stuffing, and the intimidation of commission members and observers by officials,” the report also reads.

“Police employed torture and mistreatment to obtain confessions and reportedly beat and abused citizens during arrest and interrogation. Some prisons were overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacking in medical services for inmates.

“The media lacked diversity of political opinion, and most outlets reflected government views.

“Authorities did not hold anyone accountable for the 10 deaths that occurred following post[presidential]election clashes in 2008.

“On April 17, the Special Investigation Service (SIS) dropped its investigation of charges that police mistreatment of Vanadzor resident Ani Boshyan led her to attempt suicide in late 2014.

“Police used arrest itself as a form of punishment, according to the POG [i.e. Public Observer’s Group of Police Detention Facilities]. According to official information, during the first 10 months of the year, police released almost one-half of those arrested without charging them.”