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HRW CONCERNED OVER ILL-TREATMENT OF ARMENIAN ACTIVIST
12:06 10.09.13
Photo by A1plus.am
Human Rights Watch has called for prompt and thorough investigation
into a recent act of violence against an Armenian activist.
In a letter to Vahram Shahinyhan, the head of the Investigative
Department of the Armenian Police, the organization expresses
its concerns over the ill-treatment of Argishti Kiviryan, the
36-year-old activists and the Coordinator of Armenia Today, who
joined a demonstration in Yerevan's Komitas street on August 24 to
protest the controversial construction of a residential building and
was later beaten by policemen in a police car as he was taken to the
precinct station.
The letter is presented below:
Dear Mr Shahinyan,
I am writing to express concern about the alleged beating of a
protestor who was arrested in connection with the break-up of a
peaceful demonstration in central Yerevan on August 24, 2013. We would
like to request information about any steps taken to investigate
these allegations and to urge the authorities to hold accountable
law enforcement officers responsible for the beating.
As you are aware, on August 24, 2013, between 50 and 60 people - local
residents and civic activists - demonstrated in a neighborhood of
Yerevan to protest the construction of a high-rise apartment building.
When protesters blocked the main thoroughfare, which is adjacent to
the construction site, police detained at least 26 participants of
the protest.
One of the detained protesters, Argishti Kiviryan, 36, told Human
Rights Watch that police beat him in the police car as he was
transported to the station. He said that he was made to lie down on
the back seat, with one policeman pinning his head down and beating
him on the head. At one point, he said, he could not breathe.
Kiviryan told Human Rights Watch that when they arrived at the Arabkir
district police station, his nose was bleeding and he felt so sick
that he could not walk up the precinct's stairs. He said that police
left him, guarded, on the sidewalk. Kiviryan called his lawyer,
who came a few minutes later and, upon seeing his bloody nose and
multiple bruises, immediately demanded that he be taken to a hospital.
Although police initially refused, when the lawyer, Luisine Sahakyan,
got a nearby doctor to examine her client, police allowed Kiviryan to
go to the hospital. Sahakyan told Human Rights Watch, that the doctor
could not stabilize Kiviryan's blood pressure, and he vomited on the
way to the hospital.
Kiviryan stabilized in the hospital and he was discharged after
midnight. Doctors recommended that he take five days of bed rest.
On August 24 Sahakyan and Kiviryan filed an explanatory statement
with the local police, and two days later they filed a complaint with
the Special Investigative Service requesting a criminal investigation
into the beating and requesting a forensic examination for Kiviryan.
The exam was conducted only four days later, on August 29. Sahakyan
told Human Rights Watch that by then most of Kiviryan's bruises
faded, and the hospital records stated that he did not suffer any
serious injuries.
According to Sahakyan, instead of investigating the police behavior,
the Special Investigative Service launched a criminal case against
her client for using violence against the authorities (article 316.1
of the Criminal Code), alleging that Kiviryan bit an officer, which
Kiviryan strongly denies. Kiviryan told Human Rights Watch that the
authorities have twice called him for questioning but postponed the
interrogation for various reasons.
Armenia is a party to both the European Convention on Human Rights
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and has
strict obligations to refrain in all circumstances from engaging in
prohibited ill-treatment. The government also has a duty to investigate
all allegations of mistreatment and remedy violations.
Human Rights Watch believes that it is very important that given the
credible allegations of ill-treatment in this case, and Armenia's
obligations to do so, that a prompt and thorough investigation into
the allegations be conducted and that those responsible for any
ill-treatment be held fully accountable.
We are looking forward to receiving information about the progress
the investigation has made. Thank you for your attention to this
important matter.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/10/hrw-kirviryan-shahinyan/
12:06 10.09.13
Photo by A1plus.am
Human Rights Watch has called for prompt and thorough investigation
into a recent act of violence against an Armenian activist.
In a letter to Vahram Shahinyhan, the head of the Investigative
Department of the Armenian Police, the organization expresses
its concerns over the ill-treatment of Argishti Kiviryan, the
36-year-old activists and the Coordinator of Armenia Today, who
joined a demonstration in Yerevan's Komitas street on August 24 to
protest the controversial construction of a residential building and
was later beaten by policemen in a police car as he was taken to the
precinct station.
The letter is presented below:
Dear Mr Shahinyan,
I am writing to express concern about the alleged beating of a
protestor who was arrested in connection with the break-up of a
peaceful demonstration in central Yerevan on August 24, 2013. We would
like to request information about any steps taken to investigate
these allegations and to urge the authorities to hold accountable
law enforcement officers responsible for the beating.
As you are aware, on August 24, 2013, between 50 and 60 people - local
residents and civic activists - demonstrated in a neighborhood of
Yerevan to protest the construction of a high-rise apartment building.
When protesters blocked the main thoroughfare, which is adjacent to
the construction site, police detained at least 26 participants of
the protest.
One of the detained protesters, Argishti Kiviryan, 36, told Human
Rights Watch that police beat him in the police car as he was
transported to the station. He said that he was made to lie down on
the back seat, with one policeman pinning his head down and beating
him on the head. At one point, he said, he could not breathe.
Kiviryan told Human Rights Watch that when they arrived at the Arabkir
district police station, his nose was bleeding and he felt so sick
that he could not walk up the precinct's stairs. He said that police
left him, guarded, on the sidewalk. Kiviryan called his lawyer,
who came a few minutes later and, upon seeing his bloody nose and
multiple bruises, immediately demanded that he be taken to a hospital.
Although police initially refused, when the lawyer, Luisine Sahakyan,
got a nearby doctor to examine her client, police allowed Kiviryan to
go to the hospital. Sahakyan told Human Rights Watch, that the doctor
could not stabilize Kiviryan's blood pressure, and he vomited on the
way to the hospital.
Kiviryan stabilized in the hospital and he was discharged after
midnight. Doctors recommended that he take five days of bed rest.
On August 24 Sahakyan and Kiviryan filed an explanatory statement
with the local police, and two days later they filed a complaint with
the Special Investigative Service requesting a criminal investigation
into the beating and requesting a forensic examination for Kiviryan.
The exam was conducted only four days later, on August 29. Sahakyan
told Human Rights Watch that by then most of Kiviryan's bruises
faded, and the hospital records stated that he did not suffer any
serious injuries.
According to Sahakyan, instead of investigating the police behavior,
the Special Investigative Service launched a criminal case against
her client for using violence against the authorities (article 316.1
of the Criminal Code), alleging that Kiviryan bit an officer, which
Kiviryan strongly denies. Kiviryan told Human Rights Watch that the
authorities have twice called him for questioning but postponed the
interrogation for various reasons.
Armenia is a party to both the European Convention on Human Rights
and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and has
strict obligations to refrain in all circumstances from engaging in
prohibited ill-treatment. The government also has a duty to investigate
all allegations of mistreatment and remedy violations.
Human Rights Watch believes that it is very important that given the
credible allegations of ill-treatment in this case, and Armenia's
obligations to do so, that a prompt and thorough investigation into
the allegations be conducted and that those responsible for any
ill-treatment be held fully accountable.
We are looking forward to receiving information about the progress
the investigation has made. Thank you for your attention to this
important matter.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/09/10/hrw-kirviryan-shahinyan/