Complaint was filed with the European Court of Human Rights on case of protester Hovhannes Harutyunyan affected by police actions in ‘Sari Tagh’ incidents
11:04, May 3, 2017 | News, Own news
Back on August 8, 2016, HCA Vanadzor took on protection of the rights of Hovhannes Harutyunyan affected by the police actions during the protests following the seizure of the RA Police Guard and Patrol Service Regiment by ‘Sasna Tsrer’ armed group on July 17, 2017. To this end, the Organization involved lawyers Artur Harutyunyan and Susanna Soghomonyan.
On July 29, 2016 Hovhannes Harutyunyan, among other protesters, got shrapnel injuries of medium gravity from the grenades thrown by the police troops in Yerevan city district called ‘Sari Tagh’, received medical treatment at Yerevan Hospital № 1 and then rehabilitation treatment for 2 months.
Later, he was declared victim under the criminal proceedings initiated on the incident, but so far no one has been involved as suspect or accused under the case and no findings of the assigned expert examinations have been received, except for the findings of the forensic examination assigned by the Investigative Committee investigator. Despite this, the law enforcement bodies examined in quite short terms the cases with police officers declared victims of violence used by the protesters according to the charges. Moreover, judgments have already been made on most of such cases.
Considering the fact that the state lacked enough will to carry out effective investigation and identify and punish the officials who committed the crime, Hovhannes Harutyunyan and his representatives filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights on violation of Article 3 (Prohibition of torture), Article 10 (Freedom of expression), Article 11 (Freedom of assembly) and Article 13 (Right to an effective legal remedy) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The applicants also referred to the attempts of the authorities to use excessive force to dispel a peaceful assembly, which did not meet the requirement of necessity in a democratic society and the failure of the state to ensure effective remedies to restore Hovhannes Harutyunyan’s violated right noting that the examination of such cases was generally discontinued.
The European Court of Human Rights confirmed receipt of the complaint and assured that the case would be examined as soon as possible.