On
May 8, lawyer Ms. Zaruhi Postanjyan made an alarm call to the Human Rights
Defender’s hotline, reporting that journalist Ms. Lilit Aghekyan was being held
at the detention center of the Mush Division of the General Department of
Community Policing under the Ministry of Internal Affairs Police, and she is
unable to be involved in the proceedings as a lawyer, as well as to visit Ms.
Lilit Aghekyan.
By
the instruction of the Defender, contact was immediately established with both
the authorized representative of the detention facility and the investigator
conducting the criminal proceedings. A clarification was received that Ms.
Lilit Aghekyan was arrested within the framework of the criminal proceedings
based on the investigator's decision for the purpose of presenting her to
court.
According
to the information received, the issue of involving Ms. Zaruhi Postanjyan as a
lawyer was rejected, since there are circumstances in the proceedings that
exclude her participation, and a public defender was involved to represent
Lilit Aghekyan's interests.
Moreover,
the issue of providing Ms. Lilit Aghekyan to a medical examination at the
detention center was raised. As a result, information on the examination and
results conducted by emergency doctors was presented to the HRDO staff. It was
also clarified that on the basis of having certain complaints, Ms. Lilit
Aghekyan was transferred to the “Gyumri Medical Center”, where, after
undergoing the necessary medical examination, she was returned to the detention
center. The representatives of the Human Rights Defender's Office was also in
contact with the duty staff of the medical institution.
Later,
the HRDO staff received information that Ms. Lilit Aghekyan was detained and
transferred to the "Abovyan" Penitentiary Institution of the Ministry
of Justice of the Republic of Armenia by a court decision.
A
visit was conducted on the instructions of the Human Rights Defender, and a
private interview was held with Ms. Lilit Aghekyan.
During
the private interview, the latter provided details about the incident, among
other things, raising issues regarding the involvement of her preferred lawyer,
Ms. Zaruhi Postanjyan, the unfounded charges brought against her, and the
inappropriate and ill-treatment of her by police officers. According to her,
the police officers used disproportionate force, handcuffs were used for a long
time, the examination was accompanied by video recording, and she was taken to
the police station in her home clothes.
During
the visit, the documents prepared regarding the, Ms. Aghekyan, were also
examined, and some issues related to ensuring rights were also discussed with
the staff of the penitentiary institution.
Ms.
Lilit Aghekyan also informed the representatives of the Human Rights Defender's
Office that upon entering the penitentiary institution, she was provided with
the necessary hygiene items, regarding which worrying information was initially
presented.
The
results of the received alarm call and the visit to the penitentiary
institution are being summarized, and letters are being addressed to the
Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of
Internal Affairs Police of the Republic of Armenia with a request for official
clarifications.
The
Defender emphasizes that the competent authorities are obliged to properly
consider all allegations of the person regarding the circumstances of
ill-treatment and to present the results publicly.
By
the Defender’s instruction, the issue of not allowing Zaruhie Postanjyan to act
as Aghekyan’s lawyer is also subject to detailed review.
Human
Rights Defender’s Office will make a public statement on the results.
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