PERMISSIVENESS REIGNS IN POLICE STATIONS

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[07:28 pm] 15 October, 2008

"I urge everyone to attend the opposition’s October 17 rally," former
deputy Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangiryan said today in the Court
of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash districts.

By the way the police escort accompanying Jhangiryan were on the
alert and saw Jhangiryan out immediately after his announcement.

Before Jhangiryan’s speech the Court heard three officers of the
criminal investigation department witnessing the detention of
Jhangiryan brothers by the Police sixth department on February 23.

"Do you know the defendant?" asked the Judge. "I am not a defendant. Do
you enjoy using the word? I am just put on trial. You can simply give
my name as you have done before," said indignant Jhangiryan.

The Judge seemed to have taken the remark for granted and did not
mention the word till the end of the trial.

One of the witnesses, Vardan Gevorgyan, told the presentees that on
February 23 by the order of deputy head of Yerevan’s Police department
Karen Babakekhyan he had gone downstairs to meet detained Vardan
Jhangiryan. Later on, already in the room, Jhangiryan asked permission
to walk as he didn’t feel well. Only then Gevorgyan noticed the blood
on the chair and guessed that Jhangiryan was wounded in the leg.

Officer Andreas Aprimyan remembered a handcuffed man being taken
to the Police department on February 23. Later he learnt that the
man was Gagik Jhangiryan. He simply confessed to the permissiveness
reigning in the Armenian Police. In reply to Jhangiryan’s question
whether Aprimyan had participated in his detention, the latter said:
"I am not guilty of anything. Panic was spread on that day. People
were being taken to police stations every now and then. I simply
executed an order. You can inquire from my superiors."

"That’s enough. You are already speaking nonsense," said the Judge.

The next court sitting is due at 2:00 October 21.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress