A/HRC/15/9 69. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic welcomed Armenia’s cooperation with United Nations agencies to promote and protect human rights, including the issuance of a standing invitation to all special procedures. It made a recommendation. 70. Ukraine commended Armenia for its efforts to protect and promote human rights and reforms carried out in the country. It inquired about the measures to implement the recommendations of the Council of Europe concerning, inter alia, further reform of the justice system and enforcement bodies. It shared concerns raised by civil society about domestic violence against women. Ukraine made recommendations. 71. In responding to questions, the delegation noted that the Armenian special investigative service had conducted an inquiry into the excessive use of force against civilians and that two criminal cases had been brought against four police officers in connection with the 2008 March events on the basis of video materials obtained from independent expert groups and the ad-hoc parliamentary commission, as well as video materials received from private individuals. The police officers had been found guilty by the court and sentenced accordingly. 72. Concerning the allegations of the incommunicado detention of persons arrested by the police, Armenia clarified that there had been no such cases. 73. Five criminal cases were investigated on alleged police beatings and ill or cruel treatment. Proper investigations had been undertaken and none of the alleged facts of illtreatment were proven. Moreover, all complaints and witness testimonies had been withdrawn. 74. Those detained in connection with the March 2008 events were not being detained for political reasons, but rather for specific offences, including the illegal storage of weapons and ammunition. Several of the individuals claiming that they had been detained for political reasons, had been convicted before the March 2008 events for crimes such as involvement in prostitution, illegal procurement of weapons and high treason. 75. The independence of judges was guaranteed by the Constitution of Armenia and provided for by legislation. Guarantees for the functioning of judges and members of the Constitutional Court, as well as grounds and procedures for holding them liable, were defined in the Constitution and in law. 76. Judges and members of the Constitutional Court may not be detained or involved in cases as defendants, and no legal proceedings on imposing administrative liability on them may be instituted, without the consent of the Council of Justice or the Constitutional Court, respectively. Judges and members of the Constitutional Court may not be arrested, except in cases in which the arrest had been made during or immediately after the commission of the criminal offence. In such cases, the President of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the President of the Court of Cassation or the President of the Constitutional Court, respectively, shall be promptly informed of the arrest. 77. Self-governance of the judiciary shall be implemented through self-government bodies established by the Judicial Code of Armenia, which was aimed at regulating all factors guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary, including the appointment and retirement of judges. The Council of Justice was entrusted with disciplinary responsibility with regard to judges and other important issues. 78. The training of judges was an ongoing process carried out in cooperation with various international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union and OSCE. Ongoing training was provided for them regarding juvenile justice, the European Convention on Human Rights and other important legal issues, with a view to enhancing their professional capacities. 11