“Authorities should reveal themselves”
00:00, June 7, 2011 | News | Right to Life | Police
Human rights activist Artur Sakunts says he isn’t surprised by the fact that there hasn’t been any progress in the revelation of the events of March 1, particularly the 10 murders after Serzh Sargsyan’s order three months ago.
“First, we should ask whether this should be ordered by Serzh Sargsyan. We can also assume that it was Serzh Sargsyan’s order that stopped the investigation into the events of March 1. This means that the political influence is shown in the disclosure of a mere crime,” the lawyer told “A1+”.
Sakunts highly doubts that a political order can lead to an impartial investigation to reveal the events of March 1.”If there is such an approach to the issue, it means that the revelation is not too likely.”
As far as the new videos of events of March 1 on social networks are concerned, Artur Sakunts says that goes to show that the level of confidence in the preliminary investigation body is so low that people are disseminating the videos publicize them.”
The human rights defender is certain that there are not only those videos, but many other materials, including videos recoded by amateurs.
“There are also many eyewitnesses because those events took place in front of thousands of people. The lack of confidence is due to the absence of the eyewitnesses’ safety. The situation hasn’t changed in the country and people continue to distrust the preliminary investigation body.”
According to Artur Sakunts, the Special Investigative Service shouldn’t have waited for Serzh Sargsyan’s order to call on the society to present any materials showing the events of March 1, but should have made a statement. “This means that Sargsyan’s order stopped the investigation.” Artur Sakunts says the events of March 1, particularly the 10 murders will not be revealed during the office of the current authorities.
“We know that the some of the 10 victims died from shots that police officers fired with special devices. If those 4 police officers have been identified and who was where, and if the prosecutors announced that they can’t identify them, how can the citizens give additional evidence? The issue concerns the police officers who applied special devices on March 1.
The human rights activist doesn’t think the SIS will be able to identify who killed who after Serzh Sargsyan’s order. “In that case, they will have to be brought to justice for concealing the crime or not showing a professional approach. This means that the authorities will have to reveal themselves, but they don’t have the will for that. This is just a game. This regime is simply taking responsibility for giving the command and implementing it. I don’t think they will go against themselves.”
Sakunts is surprised by the fact that the SIS has started calling journalists who were shedding light on the events of March 1 to interrogations.
“Instead of conducting studies at the site where the events took place, they are interrogating journalists.”