Artur Sakunts: “Police says the shot came from the Patrol and Guard Service Regiment”
15:48, August 1, 2016 | News, Other news“The authorities, represented by the police, suppress not only ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group members by putting them out of action one by one, but also the citizens’ demand to achieve changes”, human rights defender Artur Sakunts said referring to the gunshot wounds of the armed group members.
In his interview to Aravot.am, the human rights defender said that “by its practices, the police carries on viewing ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group as criminal offenders, which I consider an inadequate approach as ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group members did not seize the Patrol and Guard Service regiment for their own personal, material, mercenary or any other purposes, but definitely did so to raise political issues.
Here, the political authorities are responsible, since by a similar logic the authorities should not have negotiated with Aliyev, especially after the April hostilities; instead, they should have negotiated with some of their own people, even despite the fact that they resorted to such an extreme method, given the perception of the real impossibility of achieving solution of problems by any other way; this means that the authorities, represented by the police, suppresses the citizens as well.”
While at the initial stage, the statements of the state officials on the armed group actions contained no “terrorist” qualification, the NSS statements on ‘Sasna Tsrer’ group members already contain the word “terrorist”.
We asked Mr. Sakunts whether this can be viewed as a change in their position. “The NSS had better decide; maybe, their legal literacy is insufficient or they depend so heavily on the hesitation of their immediate political chief, as he keeps changing his mind and cannot make a final decision on his legal position.
Against their will, they accept the political nature of the issue; they cannot ignore this political nature and start hesitating given the current state of affairs…
Serzh Sargsyan must understand that by “liberating” the Patrol and Guard Service Regiment, he will not be able to ensure the security and stability of his own power.” Referring to the news of the death of a second police officer allegedly killed by a shot from the Patrol and Guard Service Regiment the other day, Artur Sakunts said, ”The information disseminated by the police in the past 2 days has nothing to do with the reality. The police lies that the shot came from the Patrol and Guard Service Regiment, and as for the questions on the place from where the shot came or who killed the police officer, they should be revealed through investigation, and the investigation will be carried out by the very police which enjoys no trust, especially in detecting crimes in such circumstances. Hence, I believe that the police is fully responsible for the death of the police officer. The police officer was not killed by ‘Sasna Tsrer’ rebels staying at the Patrol and Guard Service Regiment.”