The Statement of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor regarding Violence exerted against citizens by the Police officials in Yerevan throughout August 1-24
07:42, August 26, 2013 | Announcements, Own | Freedom of Assembly and Association, Freedom of Movement, Right to be free from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to liberty and security | Police, The Resolutions And The Liabilities of Euro Council
Throughout August 1-24, 2013 all of the public events held by civil initiative groups and citizens in Yerevan directed at various issues of public significance, including ungrounded increase of inter-community transportation fees, the unlawfulness of the building under construction in the vicinity of Komitas 5 and Sayat Nova 10 buildings, dismissal of Yerevan municipality officials having exceeded their official powers, social insurance of freedom fighters were accompanied by violence exerted on the part of the Police officials against citizens, by their illegal apprehension and threats.
Though grave breach of RA legislative norms and degrading actions, the Police officials have several times in succession apprehended the same persons to police departments, namely, Karen Harutyunyan, Vardges Gaspari, Argishti Kiviryan, Tigran Khzmalyan, Vardan Hakobyan, Armen Mikaelyan, Mariam Sukhudyan, Ani Khachatryan.
On August 24, 2013 civil activist Argishti Kiviryan was subjected to beatings by the Police officials while being illegally apprehended to the police department.
Instead of putting the issues having stirred up the citizens’ resentment to discussion, the state authorities are using Police forces in order to impede exercising the constitutional right of citizens to freedom of assemblies.
Facts regarding night visits to and searches made at the flats of the civil activists by the law-enforcers are also known, which aimed to exert pressures against their relatives.
We condemn the unlawful actions carried out by the Police against the RA citizens and demand that:
- The RA Police Chief should immediately stop unlawfulness, violence and pressures against citizens to ensure the persistent excising of the constitutional right of citizens to peaceful assembles.
- The RA Prosecutor General should investigate into the reported cases and file criminal cases against those Police officials who had carried out illegal actions and exerted violence against the citizens.
The failure to undertake the above-mentioned measures would mean your patronage of unlawful actions.