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AUTHORITIES DISCREDIT POLICE, SAYS RIGHTS ACTIVIST
Tert.am
17.05.11
The Armenian authorities are discrediting the police, the head of
the Helsinki Civil Association of Vanadzor Office has said.
Arthur Sakunts made the statement at a press conference on Tuesday
as he spoke of alleged violations that Stepan Hovakimyan - arrested
over a theft case from Moscow Cinema last year - has been subjected
to while in detention.
"Today's political authorities in Armenia are spoiling the police,"
said Sakunts.
Sakunts, together with Hovakimyan's lawyer, Vahram Kerobyan, further
said that the police resorted to torture to exert a self-incriminating
testimony from Hovakimyan.
They also said that despite several statements by the accused,
his lawyer, rights organizations and media publications, the
law-enforcement bodies refuse to launch a probe into their claims
over torture.
Arthur Sakunts further said that Hovakimyan's cell-mates submitted
a statement to the Court of First Instance of Kentron (Centre) and
Nork-Marash administrative districts, in which they confirmed that
Hovakimyan had complained of having pain in various parts of the body
after interrogation.
Sakunts and Kerobyan also claimed the police are obeying an order
and hiding the actual perpetrator.
Stepan Hovakimyan, the father of the accused, in turn, said that
he also thinks the police are trying to hide the real person behind
the crime.
"For that reason they want to shift all the blame on one person so
that to close this case," he said.
Further, Hovakimyan said that the area of the Moscow Cinema is under
24-hour video surveillance by four cameras.
"The police said that the suspect was caught on camera for half an
hour which means two hours' recording," said he, adding that only a
1.5-minute long edited excerpt has been attached to the case.
"When we demand to be given the entire video, it turns out that it has
been lost. How can we believe in that? Will any one believe that the
video recordings of a day of theft have been lost?" asked Hovakimyan.
The next court hearing on the case is scheduled on May 25.
Tert.am
17.05.11
The Armenian authorities are discrediting the police, the head of
the Helsinki Civil Association of Vanadzor Office has said.
Arthur Sakunts made the statement at a press conference on Tuesday
as he spoke of alleged violations that Stepan Hovakimyan - arrested
over a theft case from Moscow Cinema last year - has been subjected
to while in detention.
"Today's political authorities in Armenia are spoiling the police,"
said Sakunts.
Sakunts, together with Hovakimyan's lawyer, Vahram Kerobyan, further
said that the police resorted to torture to exert a self-incriminating
testimony from Hovakimyan.
They also said that despite several statements by the accused,
his lawyer, rights organizations and media publications, the
law-enforcement bodies refuse to launch a probe into their claims
over torture.
Arthur Sakunts further said that Hovakimyan's cell-mates submitted
a statement to the Court of First Instance of Kentron (Centre) and
Nork-Marash administrative districts, in which they confirmed that
Hovakimyan had complained of having pain in various parts of the body
after interrogation.
Sakunts and Kerobyan also claimed the police are obeying an order
and hiding the actual perpetrator.
Stepan Hovakimyan, the father of the accused, in turn, said that
he also thinks the police are trying to hide the real person behind
the crime.
"For that reason they want to shift all the blame on one person so
that to close this case," he said.
Further, Hovakimyan said that the area of the Moscow Cinema is under
24-hour video surveillance by four cameras.
"The police said that the suspect was caught on camera for half an
hour which means two hours' recording," said he, adding that only a
1.5-minute long edited excerpt has been attached to the case.
"When we demand to be given the entire video, it turns out that it has
been lost. How can we believe in that? Will any one believe that the
video recordings of a day of theft have been lost?" asked Hovakimyan.
The next court hearing on the case is scheduled on May 25.