What is being fabricated against the Human Rights Activist?

“Two days ago, I heard from a credible source that there was a discussion about attempting to fabricate a case against me. I was told that there was a conversation about instituting a criminal case against me regarding a crime report,” said human rights activist Artur Sakunts, who recently appeared in the focus of the “military patriotic” declarations of the representatives of the RA Authorities.

He does not exclude the option that it might simply be an attempt to silence him and maybe there will not be any case fabricated, although the reverse is also not excluded. The human rights activist was invited to the Investigation Division of the Vanadzor Police Department regarding a complaint filed by his organization.

“There have been other similar cases, this is not the first time. Specifically, this is a case of a mother, Anush Chalikyan and her son, Artyom Arakelyan. The mother came in and told us that there was knife assault and her son was taken in as a witness and beaten at the police station and she identified the individual. We went to the hospital with the victim as he had an injuries and scratches. We asked how he had received the injuries and he said he had received them at the police station. We had an X-ray taken. Later, our organization sent the mother’s letter to the prosecutor’s office. Following that, the mother telephoned us and told us that we should leave her alone.  . Her son is recruitment age and is waiting to be taken into the army. Now, the case is in the preparation phase,” mentioned the human rights activist.

“There are cases, when they do not find it appropriate to invite me as a witness; however, in some cases they invite me as a witness, which would intimidate the claimant. Unfortunately, in many cases the aggrieved party retracts the complaint as a result of intimidation.  The claimant not only retracts the complaint, but also telephones us and asks us to leave them alone.”

The human rights activist, who is labeled a ‘grant consumer’ and ‘traitor’ by the representatives of the authority, has also filed a lawsuit against the Chief of Police, Vova Gasparyan, for defamation and slander. “There was difficulty connected with the lawsuit against the chief of police as they did not provide his address so we sent the claim to his working address. All thismakes me believe that they will attempt to find an opportunity to get me involved in some case, in order to silence me.”

When asked if he sees any threats connected with his activities, Sakunts stated, “Right now, I don’t. However, the publications and statementsin the media, such as labeling me as a traitor, are certainlythreats.I can say that I have a grounded suspicion that my phone is being tapped. I do not have information about instituting a criminal case at the moment, but I have serious grounds to suspect that there is a desire to identify and catch some flaws, but it will not happen. They are trying in vain.”

Source:  www.hraparak.am