Statement

On June 6, in the evening, Arshaluys Hakobyan, the photographer of the official website of the human rights organization Helsinki Association was detained by the decision of Yerevan Kentron and Nork Marash Court of Common Jurisdiction.

He was an observer during May 31, 2009 municipal elections in Yerevan. On the voting day, he visited Malatia Sebastia polling station 8/23. The chairperson of the polling station closed the door and did not allow him to enter. They have also threatened him. A. Hakobyan informed the special investigation service.
  On June 5, in the morning, he was invited to the investigation service to give evidences, but he refused as he had not got an official notification. Later, two police officers came to his house, broke INTO his bedroom, woke him up and gave some document as a notification. The notification did not include a name, the reason for going to the investigation department, the status of the inviting person and the number of the criminal case, therefore A. Hakobyan refused to go there. In spite of the fact that his demands were legal, the police employees put pressure on him and illegally brought him to the central police station in Yerevan.
  There was violent, degrading and cruel attitude towards A. Hakobyan in the police station. He was taken to the Kentron investigative department in handcuffs.
  All this is a serious violation of rights accompanied by violation of the right to personal and housing immunity, by illegal detention and violence.
  With this fact the law enforcement bodies of Armenia SHOW their real attitude towards election violations and the actions of a human rights defender.
  We demand that they:
  1. urgently set free Arshaluys Hakobyan
2. call the officials who have performed illegal actions towards A. Hakobyan to criminal liability.
  Artur Sakunts – coordinator of HCA Vanadzor
  address: Tigran Mets 59, Vanadzor
Tel: +374 322 4 22 68
e-mail: hcav@hcav.am
Website: www.hcav.am; www.hrlori.am
  08.06.2009