OMBUDSMAN SAYS REPORTS ABOUT TORTURING NOT TRUE

ARMENPRESS
Feb 27, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS; Armenia’s human rights defender,
Armen Harutyunian, said rumors claiming that opposition activists
detained by law-enforcement bodies, mainly on charges of illegal arms
possession and calls for violent change of power are being tortured
are not true.

He said his agency received many letters claiming this but employees
of the office met with many of the detained people who denied being
beaten of tortured.

Harutyunian said they are asking the authorities to provide the
detainees with lawyers, but declined to say whether these arrests were
politically motivated saying this will be clear after investigations
are over.

He said his office receives many letters claiming abuse of human
rights by the authorities, but many are not grounded and those which
are grounded are sent to prosecutors for further investigation.

In a reference to the ongoing political turmoil he said democracy is
anchored on cooperation, dialogue and tolerance. He said no segment
of Armenians must feel defeated. He also called on political leaders
to stop for a moment and listen to each other.

"No political group or an individual can claim to have the absolute
truth," he said.