To A. Hovsepyan, Prosecutor General of Armenia
00:00, December 28, 2007 | Right to be free from torture and inhuman or degrading treatmentStatement
(On facts of torture against citizens)
Mr. Prosecutor General,
Hereby I present you about tortures and other crimes performed in Vanadzor during 2007. Law enforcement bodies either did not do anything about them or their actions are of serious concern.
• Police officers of Vanadzor intimidated, threatened and performed violence against some citizens who were brought to police in connection with the robbery that had taken place in “Aram” trading center of Vanadzor. On March 26, 2007, at 8:30 in the morning, three policemen in civilian clothes brought Vanadzor citizen Artur Arzumanyan to the Vanadzor police station and kept him there till about 18:00.
On April 2, 2007 at 9:30, police officers visited the house of Israyelyans family and said that they would take Sasoun Israyelyan to Vanadzor Police Station. The relatives told they would go the next day and on April 3 at 10 o’clock they went to the police station. S. Israyelyan was kept in the room of Zatikyan, the deputy of the head of police, until 19:00. According to the relatives, he was beaten and tortured.
A message was sent on April 6, 2007 to the Prosecutor’s office of Lori region in connection with these facts. After some delays, an official examination was appointed which was done by the employees of the security department of RA Police. As a result of the official examination, according to the information released by the Prosecutor’s office of Lori region, A. Nahapetyan, senior operative worker of the criminal investigation department received disciplinary punishment. In fact, law enforcement bodies did not do adequate actions to examine the criminal actions performed against the person.
It is known that if there is a similar action between two citizens who are not officials a criminal case is brought and the case is sent to the court. In this case, when one of the sides is an official, law enforcement bodies hide the crime being satisfied only with a disciplinary punishment against an operative worker who hadn’t had any participation in the violence against the citizens.
• On January 27, 2007, by the decision of Marzpet Khachatryan, senior investigator of the Prosecutor’s office of Lori region (current prosecutor) criminal case #33200107 was started on Manyak Melkonyan’s murder who was an inhabitant of Gugark village. On February 5th, 2007, based on the testimony of the accused Arpine Avetyan, Vanadzor citizen David Papyan was also considered a participant of the crime. Marzpet Khachatryan presented a petition to the court of first instance of Lori region with the aim of using detention for David Papyan as a precautionary measure. Then Marzpet Khachatryan submitted two other petitions (in 29.03.2007 and 25.05.2007) to prolong the duration of David Papyan’s detention. In general, David Papyan has been deprived of freedom for 8 months and 20 days. During the preliminary examination M. Khachatryan appointed expertise which would justify Papyan’s participation in the crime. The conclusions did not prove that Papyan had been in the site of the crime and that he had participated in the crime. Besides, the investigator did not familiarize David Papyan, his lawyer and the court with the conclusions. During the trial the accused Arpine Avetyan, announced that she had given testimony against Papyan as Marzpet Khachatryan, persuaded him to do so explaining that there were no other testimonies about Papyan’s participation in the murder. D. Papyan applied to you on December 1st 2007 with a letter informing about the illegal actions performed against him, but in the prosecutor’s office of Lori region they persuaded to decline his complaint. That is to say, the official tried to hide illegal actions. On April 26, 2007 at about 21:00, in one of the parts of the demolished building of former fur coat factory of Vanadzor, in the place called “Tezh Ler” there a quarrel started during which Vanadzor citizen Hrant Hakobyan was stabbed with a knife. On April 27, he died in hospital at 02:25. The materials of 19104707 criminal case show that the preliminary examination aimed not to call to responsibility Vanadzor Avagani members Samvel Diloyan, Vahagn Ayvazyan and citizen Aren Veranyan who participated in the quarrel with Hakobyan. During the pretrial the same people changed their testimonies and the picture was as if Hrant Hakobyan himself attacked the four people and they stabbed Hrant Hakobyan 15 times for self protection. A criminal case was started against Gor Torosyan, the fourth participant according to 108 article of RA Criminal Code and it was sent to the court. Hrant Hakobyan’s sister applied to you demanding to start a criminal case based on the case materials as new circumstances and testimonies. There hasn’t been any answer or reaction so far from the General Prosecutor’s office of Armenia, despite the fact that there should be a response within 10 days.
• On August 25, 2007, at night, many citizens were brought to the regional and municipal Police stations, to the prosecutor’s office in connection with the murder of A. Ghazaryan, prosecutor of Lori region. During the examination they were beaten, oppressed physically and psychologically. There were many publications in mass media. Official examination was appointed the results of which are not known. The actions performed by law enforcement bodies are subject to criminal responsibility.
The attitude of law enforcement bodies towards the abovementioned facts, their approach and inactions, unfortunately, create mistrust among people. Moreover, this attitude creates a feeling of being unprotected. Therefore, in such conditions speaking about improvements, revealing crimes and formation of a legal system in general, becomes very doubtful.
I apply to you with this letter as a citizen of Armenia, as a representative of a human rights organization, so that possible measures are taken to restore justice, legitimacy and the violated rights of citizens.
With best regards,
Arthur Sakunts
Coordinator of the organization