WHEN A CITIZEN’S RIGHTS ARE IGNORED
By AVETIS KHACHATRYAN
Azat Artsakh -- Stepanakert -- Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
25-11-2003
This letter, brought to the attention of our readers, has given us occasion for reflections. Generally, the publishable character of open letters has one purpose, to turn the given issue into the subject of attention. In essence, such letters must contain the most important questions, having a more public/social resonance. Unfortunately, lately we have come across open letters, sent to the government leadership and containing personal requests/concerns. According to our research, this is not the result of unfamiliarity with the status of the citizen, but simply the undertaking of useless efforts.
On the occasion of this actual letter, we have conducted some investigation and discovered that before the correspondent’s writing to the president of the republic about the issue concerning her, she had appealed to the appropriate tribunal (regarding which, on one occasion she has appealed to the president’s staff). Moreover, the correspondent, whose concern is the question of living quarters, was forced to write to the great American-Armenian benefactor, Alex Manoogian’s daughter, Louise Simone-Manoogian, the motive for which was the promised, but not allocated, apartment in the Mashtots 7 building.
The correspondent, Larisa Hayrapetyan, evidently having had for years a series of authorizations, wanted to secure an apartment through lawful means. However, receiving promises each time, nothing was done. Would it not have been possible, on the bases indicated in the letter, to allocate an apartment to L. Hayrapetyan? In any case, it seems, it would have been possible to resolve her request in such a way that the correspondent would not have had to appeal to the NKR president. We do not think that this is the right way; however, at the same time, we must also understand L. Hayrapetyan, because she, having run out of every hope, appealed to the president of the Republic out of frustration and in pursuit of justice. It is another question when a citizens submits a capricious request to the leader of the country, and at the same time another question when a personal issue becomes the theme of public examination. In our opinion, L. Hayrapetyan’s concern is outside the bounds of personal self-interest. Why are those structures which allow jurisdictional issues to reach the presidential level called disgraceful links? It is possible to explain this condition in a different manner, of course, not in favor of the beneficiary. But our aim is not to find an actual guilty person. This is more of an issue for public perception. It is not possible to drag out the citizen’s personal concern so much that she is forced to appeal to the highest leadership hopelessly.
Similar examples, unfortunately, are not few; and thus we print said letter to illustrate the concern we have expressed above, hoping that appropriate structures will, at least this time, have practical consequences.
OPEN LETTER TO MR. A. GHUKASYAN, NKR PRESIDENT
Since my request addressed to You 6 months ago has remained unanswered by you, I am forced to appeal to You publicly with the expectation of a reply.
The issue is that since 1974, I have been on the roster of citizens who have a need for improved living conditions. In 1980, in connection with my giving birth to twins and subsequently, as the mother of 6 children, I was moved ahead to the list of individuals with the right of relocating to larger living quarters. My 8-member family was living in the “laborer” building at 9a/20 Freedom Fighter, in a 1-room apartment without basic communal commodities, limited sanitary and inappropriate technical utilities. In 1994, my husband was wounded in battle and the same year he presented to City Hall the necessary documents to pursue being added to the roster of citizens in need of improved living quarters for 2nd level disabled persons. However, the documents were returned to us from City Hall, with verbal justification for our family’s being included on the waiting list and it not being necessary to re-register. At present my family consists of 10 persons, and due to the impossibility of them all living in one room, it has been necessary for the members of my family to establish residence in different places. My husband and I moved to the village, to his sister’s house; 2 daughters and one child live with their grandmother; and the other daughter and 3 sons (including the twins) and my daughter-in-law (who will soon give birth) live in the 1-room apartment mentioned above.
What is clear to me is that expanded living quarters are being given to citizens on the roster out of the order indicated as to time and vacancy. However, by violating the rules, of the 50 units recently vacated, my family did not receive one, disregarding the fact that I have twins and am of the mother of many children; my husband is a disabled veteran of the Artsakh war; my son is serving on the front line; my daughter-in-law is the daughter of a martyred freedom fighter; and most importantly, I have been on the list for about 30 years, and for several years have been at the top of the list. With all this, the right of my family to receive an apartment according to the rules has been violated. Since You are the one in NKR with the authority to mete out justice, I am appealing to you with the following question: How can you allow in your country such a blatant injustice? Is it because your entourage is providing you with murky misinformation? And how do you explain that people who are not entitled have received apartments in the contested building? And finally, could I, perhaps, at least this time, expect Your reply and the explanation for my violated rights and lawful benefits?
LARISA HAYRAPETYAN
As we saw, the correspondent’s dissatisfaction is justifiable. Until today, she has not received the apartment to which she is entitled, and moreover, she has not even been deemed worthy of any reply. In the end the signers of all the letters are our citizens, who in addition to their civic duties also have their rights. And the conclusion is one – the rights of citizens must be honored.
By AVETIS KHACHATRYAN
Azat Artsakh -- Stepanakert -- Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
25-11-2003
This letter, brought to the attention of our readers, has given us occasion for reflections. Generally, the publishable character of open letters has one purpose, to turn the given issue into the subject of attention. In essence, such letters must contain the most important questions, having a more public/social resonance. Unfortunately, lately we have come across open letters, sent to the government leadership and containing personal requests/concerns. According to our research, this is not the result of unfamiliarity with the status of the citizen, but simply the undertaking of useless efforts.
On the occasion of this actual letter, we have conducted some investigation and discovered that before the correspondent’s writing to the president of the republic about the issue concerning her, she had appealed to the appropriate tribunal (regarding which, on one occasion she has appealed to the president’s staff). Moreover, the correspondent, whose concern is the question of living quarters, was forced to write to the great American-Armenian benefactor, Alex Manoogian’s daughter, Louise Simone-Manoogian, the motive for which was the promised, but not allocated, apartment in the Mashtots 7 building.
The correspondent, Larisa Hayrapetyan, evidently having had for years a series of authorizations, wanted to secure an apartment through lawful means. However, receiving promises each time, nothing was done. Would it not have been possible, on the bases indicated in the letter, to allocate an apartment to L. Hayrapetyan? In any case, it seems, it would have been possible to resolve her request in such a way that the correspondent would not have had to appeal to the NKR president. We do not think that this is the right way; however, at the same time, we must also understand L. Hayrapetyan, because she, having run out of every hope, appealed to the president of the Republic out of frustration and in pursuit of justice. It is another question when a citizens submits a capricious request to the leader of the country, and at the same time another question when a personal issue becomes the theme of public examination. In our opinion, L. Hayrapetyan’s concern is outside the bounds of personal self-interest. Why are those structures which allow jurisdictional issues to reach the presidential level called disgraceful links? It is possible to explain this condition in a different manner, of course, not in favor of the beneficiary. But our aim is not to find an actual guilty person. This is more of an issue for public perception. It is not possible to drag out the citizen’s personal concern so much that she is forced to appeal to the highest leadership hopelessly.
Similar examples, unfortunately, are not few; and thus we print said letter to illustrate the concern we have expressed above, hoping that appropriate structures will, at least this time, have practical consequences.
OPEN LETTER TO MR. A. GHUKASYAN, NKR PRESIDENT
Since my request addressed to You 6 months ago has remained unanswered by you, I am forced to appeal to You publicly with the expectation of a reply.
The issue is that since 1974, I have been on the roster of citizens who have a need for improved living conditions. In 1980, in connection with my giving birth to twins and subsequently, as the mother of 6 children, I was moved ahead to the list of individuals with the right of relocating to larger living quarters. My 8-member family was living in the “laborer” building at 9a/20 Freedom Fighter, in a 1-room apartment without basic communal commodities, limited sanitary and inappropriate technical utilities. In 1994, my husband was wounded in battle and the same year he presented to City Hall the necessary documents to pursue being added to the roster of citizens in need of improved living quarters for 2nd level disabled persons. However, the documents were returned to us from City Hall, with verbal justification for our family’s being included on the waiting list and it not being necessary to re-register. At present my family consists of 10 persons, and due to the impossibility of them all living in one room, it has been necessary for the members of my family to establish residence in different places. My husband and I moved to the village, to his sister’s house; 2 daughters and one child live with their grandmother; and the other daughter and 3 sons (including the twins) and my daughter-in-law (who will soon give birth) live in the 1-room apartment mentioned above.
What is clear to me is that expanded living quarters are being given to citizens on the roster out of the order indicated as to time and vacancy. However, by violating the rules, of the 50 units recently vacated, my family did not receive one, disregarding the fact that I have twins and am of the mother of many children; my husband is a disabled veteran of the Artsakh war; my son is serving on the front line; my daughter-in-law is the daughter of a martyred freedom fighter; and most importantly, I have been on the list for about 30 years, and for several years have been at the top of the list. With all this, the right of my family to receive an apartment according to the rules has been violated. Since You are the one in NKR with the authority to mete out justice, I am appealing to you with the following question: How can you allow in your country such a blatant injustice? Is it because your entourage is providing you with murky misinformation? And how do you explain that people who are not entitled have received apartments in the contested building? And finally, could I, perhaps, at least this time, expect Your reply and the explanation for my violated rights and lawful benefits?
LARISA HAYRAPETYAN
As we saw, the correspondent’s dissatisfaction is justifiable. Until today, she has not received the apartment to which she is entitled, and moreover, she has not even been deemed worthy of any reply. In the end the signers of all the letters are our citizens, who in addition to their civic duties also have their rights. And the conclusion is one – the rights of citizens must be honored.
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