The Special Investigation Service did not investigate the violence against detainee by penitentiary staff
12:03, December 29, 2016 | News, Own news | Right to be free from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment | Detention FacilitiesHCA Vanadzor carries on protecting Hrachya Gevorgyan’s rights.
Based on the publication ‘Detainee Hrachya Gevorgyan again suffered violence by ‘Nubarashen’ Penitentiary staff’ on www.newsline.am news website, on December 14, 2016 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, which took on protection of his rights, submitted a crime report to the RA Special Investigation Service.
By its crime report, HCA Vanadzor focused on the violence by the penitentiary staff against Hrachya Gevorgyan, according to whom such violence was caused by his sending letters about pressures against him to the RA NA deputies.
However, on December 20, 2016, the investigative body sent the crime report for consideration of A. Osikyan, Head of the RA MoJ Penitentiary Department, whereas according to the RA Criminal Procedure Code provisions, Special Investigation Service investigators had to carry out preliminary investigation into crimes committed by persons on special state service.
On December 26, 2016, HCA Vanadzor applied to the RA Prosecutor General A. Davtyan to take from the Head of the penitentiary facilities the application on using violence against the detainee by ‘Nubarashen’ penitentiary staff and forward it to the Special Investigation Service.
Note that attorney Tigran Safaryan, involved by HCA Vanadzor, filed a motion with the European Court of Human Rights on taking urgent measures to provide detainee Hrachya Gevorgyan with necessary medical aid and care. The motion was first communicated by the Court and then after receiving the RA Government’s replies, the ECtHR rejected it.
Based on the failure to provide the detainee with proper medical care, the attorney has already filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights on violation of Article 3 (Prohibition of torture) of the European Convention on Human Rights.