Yesterday, late in the evening (on June 19, 2021)
lawyers Ms. Lusine Martirosyan and Ms. Varduhi Elbakyan lodged an alarming call
with the Human Rights Defender’s Office stating that their clients, 5
supporters of “Armenia” (“Hayastan”) alliance, and “Prosperous Armenia”
(“Bargavach Hayastan”) party - 2 women և 3 men, were apprehended in violation
of the law to the Malatya Police Division on the same day and were held without
any basis. The lawyer also asked to carry out a rapid response visit because
the policemen did not allow them to enter the division.
Based on the alarming call, the rapid response group
of the Human Rights Defender’s Office visited the Malatia Division of the
Police, where it received clarifications providing that supporters of “Armenia”
(“Hayastan”) alliance were apprehended on suspicions of taking a bribe and
giving a bribe.
During private interviews with the Human Rights
Defender’s representatives in the Police division, some of the persons deprived
of liberty and their lawyers noted that during apprehension and stay in the
division one of the women received illegal treatment by the Police. In
particular, one of the women was apprehended along with her adult son. During
the apprehension, the woman was not provided with any reason, she was dragged
and was involuntarily apprehended to the division by car. In the department,
the woman was periodically insulted and cursed and was required to write what
the police officers would say. Later the woman was threatened that (they) would
initiate a criminal case against her son (apprehended together with her) and
deprive him of liberty if (she) fails to testify regarding issues mentioned by
the policemen.
On the site, the Human Rights Defender’s
representatives recorded that the ambulance crew was invited due to the health
issues of the woman. The apprehended woman and the lawyers also noted this.
In addition, Ms. Lusine Martirosyan (lawyer) provided
specific information to the Human Rights Defender that when she and Ms. Varduhi
Elbakyan (lawyer) arrived at the Malatia Police Division to meet their clients,
the on-duty servicemen did not open the division’s door and deliberately did
not allow them to enter the division for about 30-35 minutes, during which they
were periodically rude and mocking. Later on, following the raised noise,
(they) opened the division door: however, а Police servicemen (wearing straps
of an officer) got into argument with the lawyers in the on-duty section,
started shouting at them and saying that it was their business whether they
would let the lawyers in or not. After the argument that lasted from 5 to 7
minutes (they) were allowed to go upstairs.
In the police division, the lawyer noted that the
mentioned woman (the client) was in one of the police officers’ offices, in the
presence of 7-8 policemen, who insulted the woman and threatened her to provide
testimonies. According to Ms. Lusine Martirosyan, in response to her request on
having a private interview with their client and suspending the described
actions, the policemen started behaving aggressively towards the lawyers, said
insulting phrases about all lawyers, and noted that it was up to the policemen
to decide who would talk to one another. Afterwards, for a long time, they did
not provide a room to the lawyer for a private interview with her client and
for providing legal assistance.
In alarming calls addressed to the Human Rights
Defender the lawyers informed that the policemen’s actions in apprehending their
clients to the Police division were clearly illegal, it was a gross violation
of the right to liberty of their client, as no criminal case was initiated and the
issue only concerned the stage for preparation of a criminal case file.
Moreover, according to the lawyers, the Police
servicemen did not present any suspicion (concerning a crime). Conversely, they
threatened one of their clients with a new criminal case in case she fails to
provide the information preferred by them.
The Office of the Human Rights Defender of the
Republic of Armenia will send the mentioned information to the Armenian General
Prosecutors Office for proceeding in line with the procedure under the Criminal
Procedure Code.
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