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On June 28, 2917, the day the armed group named “SasnaTsrer” (Daredevils of Sassoun) was on trial for occupying PGS Regiment of RA Police in July 2016, at the Court of General Jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork Administrative DistrictsAregKyuregyan, member of the group and defendant of the case,attempted to pass a paper to his defense attorney before the court hearing.The police officer in the court hall took away the paper from him and prevented passing it to the attorney. Another defendant over the case, a member of “SasnaTsrer” armed group Smbat Barseghyan stood up and made aremark regarding it, which was immediately followed by forcefully removing him and also AregKyureghyan from the courtroom by the police officers.

In the evening of the same dayArayik Papikyan and MusheghShushanyan, advocates of AregKyureghyanand ArayikKhandoyan, after a meeting with their defendants,  informed the Mass Media that on the same day members of the armed group ArayikKhandoyan, AregKyureghyan, Mkhitar Avetisyan, Smbat Barseghyan and GagikYeghiazaryan were subjected to violence and beatings by the Police officialsin the basement of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork Administrative Districts.

The violence occurred in a room of the court building, where ArayikKhandoyan and GagikYeghiazaryan were being kept. They ended up in this roomdue to being removed from the courtroom for 6 hoursby the judge during the previous court hearing. When the Police officers forcefully pushed defendantsAregKyureghyan, Mkhitar Avetisyan into the same room, ArayikKhandoyan complained abouttreating his friends in such a way.The policemen reacted to Mr. Khandoyan’s statement by beating him and his friends. Since the room was small, 15 police officers[1] took turns beating them. Smbat Barseghyan and GagikYeghiazaryanwere beaten as well.

ArayikKhandoyan’s and AregKyureghyan’s advocates told themedia that a number of bodily injuries had been inflicted ontheir defendants. ArayikKhandoyan’s advocate Arayik Papikyan declared that A. Khandoyan had bruises on his face, quite deep tissue injuries on his legs, and moreover, the police kicked him on the kidneys. The advocate claims that ArayikKhandoyan had a concussion, but didn’t receive relevant medical assistance.[2]

AregKyureghyan’s advocate MusheghShushanyanstated that A. Kyureghyan had suffered over 100 blows in the area of his chest, abdomen, back, and legs, in the area of nose and forehead in the face, specifically, there were traces of injuries including hemorrhages, which were recorded by the “Nubarashen” Penitentiary medical expert.[3]

The Staff of the RA Human Rights Defender has issued a publication on the aforementioned cases of violence based on the findings of the studies by the HRD Rapid Response Team.

ArayikKhandoyan, Mkhitar Avetisyan, and GagikYeghiazaryan underwent a physical examination by the expert of the Staff of the RA Human Rights Defender, and the medical files of AregKyureghyan and Smbat Barseghyan were reviewed since the latter did not agree to have private talks.

According to the results of the external examination:

– Two linear scratches (1 in each extremity) of 1-2 cm length and somewhat red color were recorded on the external sections of the two knee joints of lower extremities of ArayikKhandoyan.

– A scratch of about 12 cm in length and 4 cm in width was recorded on MkhitarAvetisyan’s upper part of right shoulder blade near the shoulder girdleand another scratch of about 6 cm in length and 4 cm in width near the outer edge of the left shoulder blade, a scratch of about 4 cm in length and 3 cm in width in the outer part of the elbow joint, andswelling of left elbow joint.

– Mucosal membrane injury with somewhat bluecolor was detected on the right angle and internal part of GagikYeghiazaryan’s upper lip, another mucosal membrane injury on the right angle of his lower lip with 1 cm diameter and reddish color,a scratch of 2 cm in the area of his left elbow near the side surface with reddish color, a scratch of about 2 cm in length and 1 cm in width in the direction of the vertebral columnin the area of the back on the level of 4-th and 5-th thoracic ribs with reddish color.

During the private talks with the HRD’s representatives,the detainees informed that the traces of physical force were triggered by the violence exerted by the police officers. All of the acquired data were summarized in a defined order and sent to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office for verification within the scope of the criminal proceedings and provision of necessary legal assessment.[4]

On the same day, July 28, 2017, when a jostling began in the courtroom between the police officers and the citizens present in the hall, Davit Yeghiazaryan, brother of “SasnaTsrer” armed group member GagikYeghiazaryan was apprehended.  As a reason for Davit Yeghiazaryan’sapprehension, the RA Police proposed the alleged commitment of “judicial offense” by the latter, that isa failure to comply with the orders of the police officers.  Later the RA Police informed the advocates that D. Yeghiazaryanhad been apprehended on suspicion of applying violence against a police officer, which is deemed an act punishable by law. After giving an explanation in the police department Davit Yeghiazaryan was released. Advocate Lusine Sahakyan told themedia that D. Yeghiazaryan’s hands were harmed from handcuffs.

The advocates also witnessed violence exerted against Yeghiazaryan by the police officersin the yard of the court building. When the former attempted to provide legal assistance,they were attacked by the police as well.[5]

Summarizing the events, we record:

– For the first time, police officers exerted violence against detained citizens in the courtroom, which constitutes an apparent encroachment against the independence of the judiciary.

– The detainees were transferred from the penitentiary to the court by Police special escort squad and it is unknown whether those exerting violence and beatings against the detained citizens in the court were the officers of that specific squad or some other subdivision of the Police.

We strictly condemnthe actions taken by the Police in the Court of General Jurisdiction of Avan and Nor Nork Administrative Districts on June 28, 2017, which we find:

– Public and unpunished encroachment against the independence of the judiciary.

– Public punitive action, as well as physical and psychological pressure against individuals for their political views.

– Crime humiliating human dignity.

– An open action of public intimidation.

We demand:

– The RA General Prosecutor’s Office and the RA Special Investigative Service shall exercise the mandatory powers attributable to them by the RA Constitution and relevant laws in order to bring to liability the police officials having dishonored the independence of the judiciary, as the major state institute, and having exerted violence against the citizens.

– Ensure a comprehensive forensic medical examination on the ground of the recorded violence fact.

– Stop intervention into the advocates’ activities by bringing to liability the relevant police officials over the aforementioned cases.

The statement is open to joining:

Ashtarak Civic Youth Center
Armavir Civic Youth Center

“Bambir” Cultural NGO

Open Society Foundations-Armenia
Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center

“Asparez” Journalists’ Club
Ijevan Civic Youth Center
Union of informed citizens
Real World, Real People NGO
“Protection of Rights Without Borders” NGO
“Peace Dialogue” NGO
Women’s Support Center
Women’s Rights Center
“Armenian Helsinki Committee” human rights NGO

Society Without Violence NGO
Helsinki Association
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor
“Borders of Our Rights” human rights NGO
“New Generation” Humanitarian NGO
Vanadzor Civic Youth Center
Ani Aghagulyan, lawyer

[1] In accordance with Article 17 of the RA law on Police, in the cases provided for by legislation the Police shall be obliged to escort arrested and detained persons, hold in custody the apprehended, arrested persons, whereas in the cases provided for by law — the detained persons, assist the compulsory enforcement services in ensuring the execution of court rulings and judgments.

[2]15 police officers took turns beating Arayik Khandoyan (video), Hraparak, 29.06.2017, http://hraparak.am/?p=150283&l=am/,  “Arayik Khandoyan unveiled being beaten in the court’s basement, a group of police officers hit him on the head, feet and in the area of the kidneys”, 168 hours, 29.07.2017, https://168.am/2017/06/29/813865.html.

[3]There are hemorrhages on Areg Kyureghyan’s nose and forehead, while over 100 kicks on his body, the advocate alerts, Hetq, 29.06.2017, http://hetq.am/arm/news/80199/areg-kyurexyani-qti-tchakati-hatvatsum-aryunazexumner-kan-isk-marmnin-100-ic-aveli-harvats-e-stacel-ahazangum-e-pastabany.html.

[4]The arrestees informed that the traces of physical force were the result of the Police violence, Aravot, 29,06,2017, http://www.aravot.am/2017/06/29/894737/.

[5]There is an apprehended individual over the case of “Sasna Tsrer”, Aravot, 28.06.2017, http://www.aravot.am/2017/06/28/894372/.

The brother of “SasnaTsrer” member was released, he was apprehended on suspicion of exerting violence against a police official; NEWS.am, 28.06.2017, https://news.am/arm/news/397618.html.