Statement by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

HCA Vanadzor regularly receives complaints from citizens regarding instances of violence, inhuman and degrading treatment used against them at the police stations.

The cases are later reported by the organization  to the law enforcement  agencies. Typically, no criminal cases are initiated based on the reports; in some cases the police conduct an internal investigation, and as a rule, they force the citizens to retract their complaints regarding the violence, by trying to convince them to change their statement or by threatening them. At the same time, especially  over the last 2 years,the police have invited staff members of HCAV, which reported the crime, as well as the chairman of the organization, who is the representative of the legal entity, for explanations on allegations that the staff members of the organization fabricated the information that was provided by the citizens, directed the citizens on what to say, and even used threats against the citizens.    

On October 10, 2011, the organization filed a report with the RA Special Investigation Service, regarding  the illegal apprehension of a citizen, for holding him in custody for 14 hours and for using violence against him.

The report filed by the organization did not have any consequences, as according to the response received from the RA Department of Internal Safety of the Police on November 3, 2011, the case of violence was not confirmed, because the persons indicated in the report did  not come forward with any complaints.

It is noteworthy  to mention that, in December 2011, an employee of the HCAV was invited to the Lori Region Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department of the RA Police for an interrogation as a witness, in order to find out what information she possessed regarding the criminal case, in which the citizen, who was subjected to violence, was involved as a witness. 

On January 2012, the chairman of the organization was invited to the Lori Region Investigation Division of the General Investigation Department of the RA Police to provide some explanation in the preparation phase of a case. The questions asked by the investigator during the interrogation were connected with the chairman of the organization allegedly threatening a citizen who was subjected to violence at the police station and his mother. The chairman was accused of being too active during the medical examination, as well as other issues. In other words, the law enforcement bodies have not only adopted a policy of denying the complaints of the citizens who were subjected to violence at the police station, but also of intimidating the human rights protection activity of the organization, which is manifested in a threat to initiate a criminal case. 

We find that on behalf of the law enforcement  agencies, the RA Prosecutor’s Office, the RA Special Investigation Service, and the Republic of Armenia:

1.    Do not carry out their oblibgations to prevent torture under the UN Convention  against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
2.    It not only fails to encourage, but also attempts to silence the outcry of the citizens who were subjected to violence, the initiatives of the organziation regarding such cases, by threatening to prosecute. It also attempts to conceal the violence used by the law enforcement bodies against the citizenss by covering up crimes. 

Hereby:
•    We condemn the working style of the RA Law Enforcement Agencies.
•    We declare that any intimidation, threats or their attempts are doomed to failure and the hopes of the authorities to suspend the activity of the organziation in Armenia, by using such methods, are simply done in vain.
Once again, we state that we will be consistent, persistent and determined in our actions against all cases of violation of human rights.:
Hereby, we will continue filing alerts and reports regarding each case in order to achieve:
•    Exposure of the perpetrators of violence against citizens
•    Legal assesment of the actions
•    Application of justice

We believe that law enforcement bodies will eventually understand their responsibilities  towards the RA Citizens, based on the RA Constitution, the RA International Obligations, and the  National Legislation.

13.01.2012
Vanadzor