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NEW YEREVAN POLICE CHIEF DOGGED BY TORTURE CLAIMS; OPPOSITION CITES CASE HEARD BY ECHR
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/45441/armenia_new_yerevan_police_chief_torture_claim
HUMAN RIGHTS | 18.04.13 | 14:50
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Chief of the head department for criminal investigation of the police
has been appointed chief of Yerevan police. His name was mentioned
as a torturer in the lawsuit by one of the opposition activists who
had turned to the European Court of Human Rights and the court ruled
in claimants' favor, imposing a 31,000-euro ($40,000) penalty to be
paid by the Armenian state as compensation.
Newly-appointed Yerevan Police Chief Ashot Karapetyan's name is
linked to opposition activist Grisha Virabyan's case. Virabyan was
physically abused and tortured in spring 2004, when rgw opposition
was holding rallies demanding Armenia's second president Robert
Kocharyan's resignation.
Attorney Vahe Grigoryan made a post on his Facebook page, bringing
up Virabyan's case.
"In reference to the appointment of Yereven's new chief of police: The
claimant reports also that ... after they [the two policemen who had
beaten the claimant] left the room [in the police station premises],
another policeman, A.K. entered the room and started hitting him with
an iron object at his testicles. Further, his hands got shackled
and police officer A.K. continued striking blows with feasts and
feet in the area below [the claimant's] waste, which caused him lose
consciousness... European Court of Human Rights, Verdict on Case N
40094/05, 02/10/2012, Strasburg, Virabyan v. Armenia."
The European Court handed down a verdict that Virabyan's right for
fair trial was violated and he was subjected to discrimination.
Virabyan's testimony points to Ashot Karapetyan as one of his torturers
(Virabyan later underwent a surgery on his testicles).
Hours after Police Colonel Karapetyan's appointment, online social
networks and the press started circulating news claiming that the new
chief of Yerevan police is "highly skilled in torture and violence".
Karapetyan himself has denied such claims.
"During my work experience I have never beaten anyone, if I had done
so, respective bodies would have taken measures. That news is nonsense
which has become subject of speculations. If my actions had criminal
elements I wouldn't have been able to work in the police system:
currently chief of Yerevan police department, formerly head of the
chief department of criminal investigation, and so on," Karapetyan
said in an interview to eMedia.am.
During the Wednesday session of the parliament when police reforms were
being discussed, Civil Society Institute NGO leader Arman Danielyan
stated that he personally does not trust the police, implying the
fact who is now appointed as Yerevan chief of police.
"It is a fact that Grisha Virabyan was tortured by policemen. It
is also a fact that Ashot Karapetyan used to work at that police
department in the period when Virabyan was tortured. A criminal case
was not filed in 2004. It is again a fact that a criminal case was not
filed even in 2012 when the European Court brought in its verdict,"
said Danielyan.
RA Deputy Chief of Police Artur Osikyan stated that Karaetyan is his
colleague, whom he respects highly as a professional.
Oppositional Armenian National Congress's public relations officer
Vladimir Karapetyan said in his interview to iLur.am, that the
government of Armenia has to show adequate approach to those officials
who have failed in their duties.
"If the Armenian authorities' actions meet their words, they should by
all means arrest the now high-ranking police official Ashot Karapetyan,
who personally raised a hand at Mr. Virabyan. Those judges because
of whom our citizens, as well as Armenia's international rating,
have suffered should be fired," he said.
Member of the People's Party of Armenia, Brussels-based Grisha Virabyan
told the press: "The appointment of a psycho like Ashot Karapetyan
as chief of Yerevan police implies only one thing - the president is
afraid of new commotions and he needs that kind of people to later
use as scapegoats."
Oppositional activist Grisha Virabyan was physically abused, tortured
on April 24 of 2004 by then deputy head of Ararat province's police
department Ashot Karapetyan, head of Artashat police's criminal
investigation department Hovik Movsisyan, head of the province's
state motor inspection Avetik Harutyunyan.
http://armenianow.com/society/human_rights/45441/armenia_new_yerevan_police_chief_torture_claim
HUMAN RIGHTS | 18.04.13 | 14:50
By GAYANE MKRTCHYAN
ArmeniaNow reporter
Chief of the head department for criminal investigation of the police
has been appointed chief of Yerevan police. His name was mentioned
as a torturer in the lawsuit by one of the opposition activists who
had turned to the European Court of Human Rights and the court ruled
in claimants' favor, imposing a 31,000-euro ($40,000) penalty to be
paid by the Armenian state as compensation.
Newly-appointed Yerevan Police Chief Ashot Karapetyan's name is
linked to opposition activist Grisha Virabyan's case. Virabyan was
physically abused and tortured in spring 2004, when rgw opposition
was holding rallies demanding Armenia's second president Robert
Kocharyan's resignation.
Attorney Vahe Grigoryan made a post on his Facebook page, bringing
up Virabyan's case.
"In reference to the appointment of Yereven's new chief of police: The
claimant reports also that ... after they [the two policemen who had
beaten the claimant] left the room [in the police station premises],
another policeman, A.K. entered the room and started hitting him with
an iron object at his testicles. Further, his hands got shackled
and police officer A.K. continued striking blows with feasts and
feet in the area below [the claimant's] waste, which caused him lose
consciousness... European Court of Human Rights, Verdict on Case N
40094/05, 02/10/2012, Strasburg, Virabyan v. Armenia."
The European Court handed down a verdict that Virabyan's right for
fair trial was violated and he was subjected to discrimination.
Virabyan's testimony points to Ashot Karapetyan as one of his torturers
(Virabyan later underwent a surgery on his testicles).
Hours after Police Colonel Karapetyan's appointment, online social
networks and the press started circulating news claiming that the new
chief of Yerevan police is "highly skilled in torture and violence".
Karapetyan himself has denied such claims.
"During my work experience I have never beaten anyone, if I had done
so, respective bodies would have taken measures. That news is nonsense
which has become subject of speculations. If my actions had criminal
elements I wouldn't have been able to work in the police system:
currently chief of Yerevan police department, formerly head of the
chief department of criminal investigation, and so on," Karapetyan
said in an interview to eMedia.am.
During the Wednesday session of the parliament when police reforms were
being discussed, Civil Society Institute NGO leader Arman Danielyan
stated that he personally does not trust the police, implying the
fact who is now appointed as Yerevan chief of police.
"It is a fact that Grisha Virabyan was tortured by policemen. It
is also a fact that Ashot Karapetyan used to work at that police
department in the period when Virabyan was tortured. A criminal case
was not filed in 2004. It is again a fact that a criminal case was not
filed even in 2012 when the European Court brought in its verdict,"
said Danielyan.
RA Deputy Chief of Police Artur Osikyan stated that Karaetyan is his
colleague, whom he respects highly as a professional.
Oppositional Armenian National Congress's public relations officer
Vladimir Karapetyan said in his interview to iLur.am, that the
government of Armenia has to show adequate approach to those officials
who have failed in their duties.
"If the Armenian authorities' actions meet their words, they should by
all means arrest the now high-ranking police official Ashot Karapetyan,
who personally raised a hand at Mr. Virabyan. Those judges because
of whom our citizens, as well as Armenia's international rating,
have suffered should be fired," he said.
Member of the People's Party of Armenia, Brussels-based Grisha Virabyan
told the press: "The appointment of a psycho like Ashot Karapetyan
as chief of Yerevan police implies only one thing - the president is
afraid of new commotions and he needs that kind of people to later
use as scapegoats."
Oppositional activist Grisha Virabyan was physically abused, tortured
on April 24 of 2004 by then deputy head of Ararat province's police
department Ashot Karapetyan, head of Artashat police's criminal
investigation department Hovik Movsisyan, head of the province's
state motor inspection Avetik Harutyunyan.