The rapid response groups of the Office of the Human Rights Defender visited 4 Police divisions in today, providing advice and assistance for realization of the rights of more than 45 persons.
During the visits, several violations were recorded: In particular:
1. Cases were recorded where the right of the apprehended person to make at least one phone call was obstructed.
Likewise, cases of not informing apprehended persons of their right to make at least one phone call in Police divisions were registered, as well as attempts of restricting the use of that right due to the presence of a lawyer.
Moreover, the practice of forcibly turning off or forcing persons under administrative detention to turn off their cellular phone against their will was widespread, as a result of which an impression is created about the lack of the right to make a phone call.
Such behavior is especially condemnable in the case of proceedings involving minors. In all the registered cases, the right to make a phone call through the mediation of the Defender's rapid response groups was exercised if the citizens requested it.
Taking into consideration the above-mentioned, the Defender notes that Police servicemen are obliged to guarantee the right of a person to make at least one phone call; the restriction of that right during the process of administrative detention can never be justified.
2. The next registered issue is related to not informing foreigners under administrative detention about their minimum rights in a language they can understand.
In particular, two persons in the Erebuni Police division insisted that they could not read Armenian, while the document about their rights was provided to them in Armenian. The Defender notes that informing them about their rights should not only have a formal nature, but it should also in fact guarantee the real possibility of exercising those rights, and the apprehended persons should have the possibility to be informed of those rights in a language that they can understand.
3. The rapid response groups of the Office of the Human Rights Defender recorded a case in the Police division of Arabkir district of Yerevan, where the citizen who was brought to the division was without shoes. Moreover, the citizen was not provided the possibility to make a phone call; as a result of the intervention of the representatives of the Defender, the citizen made a phone call.
4. At the Police division of the Central district of Yerevan, a case where a 16-year old person who was apprehended near Victory bridge had suffered bodily injuries. According to the latter, they were the result of a disproportionate use of force by the Police.
According to the person, during the apprehending, his eyeglasses were also destroyed.
Other cases of bodily injuries and damage to clothes have been registered with other persons apprehended from the same place.
In relation to the mentioned case, the Defender informs that they will address letters to the competent bodies, to implement detailed investigation about the incident.
5. As a result of the monitoring of the publications of mass media outlets by the Office of the Human Rights Defender, an incident where a Police serviceman hit and pushed an elderly woman was registered; it is especially unacceptable since the person has limited ability to resist due to her age. The Defender again warns that similar working methods by Police servicemen is unacceptable and condemnable, and similar cases must be subjected to detailed investigation.
6. As a result of the monitoring, cases where participants of the protests and other assemblies and those citizens who are not participating in the mentioned events insulted and committed other acts aimed at degrading each other’s dignity were recorded.
Cases were registered where the cause of the dispute between the protesters and those not participating in the mentioned rallies was the fact that protesters did not open the blocked roads, including for those persons who were rushing to the hospital.
The Human Rights Defender once again urges everyone to refrain from displaying intolerant behavior towards each other, insulting each other, and manifestation of any behavior of intolerance and hatred due to political views, opinion, and the fact of participation or non-participation in the protests.
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