BackOn Sunday early morning the Human Rights Defender carried out comprehensive monitoring following the interrogation of the parliamentary opposition “Prosperous Armenia” fraction leader. The criminal proceeding involving the “Prosperous Armenia” fraction leader Mr. Gagik Tsarukyan is at the center of the Human Rights Defender’s attention within his legal mandate prescribed by law.
14 rapid response groups were formed by the Human Rights Defender under his direct supervision. 10 groups visited the Police Yerevan City Department and the regional units. The last group returned from the Police unit in late evening. 4 working groups carried out monitoring of social networks, media publications, and provided legal assistance to citizens.
During the visits to police units, the Human Rights Defender’s representatives held private interviews with 165 arrested persons, examined documents with regard to arrestees, as well as clarifications of the Police on apprehension. Complaints with regard to police officer’s treatment were generally not presented. Recorded issues mainly related to apprehension from the street to police units and guaranteeing rights during the apprehension (for example, lack of proper clarification of grounds for arrests, improper reflection of grounds for administrative detention in the records of administrative proceedings). The results of the visits to the police units, private interviews and documents’ examination will be summarized and presented to the Police, with the request for clarification and recommendations for solutions.
According to the Human Rights Defender’s position, the Government must have a special legal approach towards those who are not participants of the activities or other mass event, but are monitoring the event for human rights protection purposes. Therefore, the Police will be requested to provide clarifications on the grounds and manner of arresting Mr. Ruben Melikyan within a separate investigation procedure.
The Human Rights Defender also considers inadmissible the manner of removal of Ms. Naira Zohrabyan, Chair of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs, and a number of other female MPs from the street, who had announced a sit-in protest.
P.S. The Human Rights Defender calls on everyone to maintain the rules of prevention of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Source: Human Rights Defender's Office of the Republic of Armenia
