Family Picked Up by Police on Day of Putin’s Visit to Armenia Submit 2 Lawsuits Against Police
11:53, May 5, 2014 | News, Other news | Customs union, Police
Two lawsuits have been sent to the general jurisdiction and administrative courts on destruction of property and the use of force against the Khudoyan family protesting outside the presidential palace on December 2, 2013, the day of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia. This news was conveyed to Epress.am by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (HCA) Vanadzor office employe Tatevik Siradeghyan.
Representing the Khudoyans’ interests, the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office appealed to the court, disputing the RA Special Investigation Service’s refusal to launch criminal proceedings regarding the damage to the Khudoyans’ property.
Recall, both the human rights organization and the Khudoyans submitted a complaint about the Special Investigation Service (SIS) decision to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, but they were denied. Head of the HCA Vanadzor office Artur Sakunts’ complaint was refused on the grounds that he is not the aggrieved party, whereas refusing the Khudoyans’ appeal, the General Prosecutor’s Office stated that the SIS decision is lawful.
Siradeghyan said it is not yet clear whether the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts will begin proceedings on the complaint against the SIS decision or not.
The second complaint related to the incident on Dec. 2, 2013, was sent to the Administrative Court, which accepted the lawsuit challenging the legality of the actions of the police. The day of the court hearings is not yet known.
Recall, on December 2, Ashot Khudoyan’s family, removed from the sidewalk across the street from the presidential palace, claimed they were placed under house arrest in Etchmiadzin. Another protestor, Emma Sahakyan, on the same day told Epress.am that Ashot Khudoyan was able to secure a mobile phone from someone passing by his window and call her. He told her that police officers are prohibiting them from leaving their house, and the children are unable to go to school, since the 15 plainclothes officers who picked them up from outside the presidential palace forgot their and their children’s clothing and shoes, which were left behind not far from the Marshal Baghramyan metro station.