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On November 27, 2015, A. M. from Gryumri consulted Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor reporting that he was apprehended by Gyumri police officers to Mush Division on April 20, 2015 where he was kept from 10 pm to 1 am. He was questioned and released. On the next day, he received a referral to forensic medical examination. The police officers explained that the investigation activities related to the murder committed in Gyumri on April 18, 2015.

As the person above mentioned in his application, he was again invited to Gyumri Police Mush Division to have his fingerprints taken. Also, they took his passport and promised to return it the next day but it remained at the police for almost 8 months.

The person also mentioned that in June-July 2015, he was apprehended again; then the police searched his apartment and those of his relatives and seized valuable items that were not returned.

According to A. M., for months he suffered illegal persecution by police officers and baseless questioning accompanied by degrading treatment. Moreover, within the criminal case, he was not informed of his procedural status of a suspect or an accused.

A. M. also said that he was offered to confess to committing a crime by promising to send him abroad for 5 years.

The police officers abused their powers prescribed by law by committing a number of violations of the Criminal Code, i.e. through subjecting a person with the procedural status of a witness to expert examinations not prescribed by law and confiscating his documents and other personal items, which violated the person’s rights and legitimate interests.

By its application on the above of December 8, 2015 to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office and the RA Special Investigation Service, HCA Vanadzor required to call to responsibility the offenders and take measures to restore A. M.’s violated rights.

By its response letter of January 25, 2016, the Internal Security Department of the RA Police admits that the actions by the competent authorities were baseless and at the same time informs of not taking any disciplinary action against the police officer responsible for disciplinary violation arguing that he committed such a violation for the first time and he is characterized as positive by his supervisors.

Thus, without any procedural status in the case initiated on a murder, A. M. suffered undue persecution by law enforcement agencies, and as a result a number of his rights were violated; particularly, he suffered restricted right to exit the territory of the RA and his dignity and that of his family was destroyed; he suffered constant fear and anxiety. Furthermore, as the police returned his identity documents after the interference of HCA Vanadzor (furthermore, the police assured that he would no longer face any problems if he left Armenia), A. M. intended to leave for work abroad, but at the airport his freedom of movement was again interfered with. A. M. was apprehended to Zvartnots police station where he was forced to sign a commitment to present himself before Gyumri Police Mush Division.

Upon presenting himself to the police division accompanied by a HCA Vanadzor lawyer, A. M. found out that compelling him to sign the commitment actually had a different objective. By doing so, the law enforcement officials wanted to exert psychological pressure and force A. M. to withdraw his complaint against the illegal actions of the police.

However, the competent agencies refused to prosecute the police officer responsible for a grave disciplinary violation and A. M.’s violated rights were not restored.

HCA Vanadzor is committed to detect the real perpetrators and restore the rights of A. M.