On the instruction
of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, the rapid response teams of the Office
left for the Police Divisions in connection with the apprehension and
administrative arrest of the protesters in Yerevan today, including lawyer Mr. Ara
Zohrabyan.
Private interviews
took place with Mr. Ara Zohrabyan and the other apprehended persons, the videos
of the administrative arrest were studied.
The Human Rights
Defender states that the actions of the Police in connection with the administrative
arrest of Ara Zohrabyan today did not follow the law: It was carried out without
explaining the grounds for deprivation of liberty, without clarifying the
minimum rights (the right to contact a lawyer, to be silent, and other rights),
and by using disproportionate force. The method by which Mr. Ara Zohrabyan was
arrested was inadmissible.
Studies conducted
by the Human Rights Defender on these issues, both today and over the years,
demonstrate that this problematic practice of administrative arrest and
apprehension is widespread. It was applied against other protesters today.
This practice
should be excluded: any case of administrative arrest, apprehension or, in
other words, deprivation of liberty is illegal if the minimum human rights are
not ensured during deprivation of liberty.
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