OBSERVER WAS BEATEN UP AND ARRESTED

A1+
07:05 pm | June 08, 2009 | Politics

"It is the first time a human rights activist has been arrested in
Armenia," says the chairman of the Armenian Helsinki Association,
Michael Danielian.

Two days ago human rights advocate Arshaluis Hakobyan was "invited"
to an interrogation. After policemen handed him the writ of summons
a quarrel started between them. Soon Michael was taken to a police
station. According to press, Hakobyan was beaten up at the police
station by Deputy Chief of Police of Kentron Police Department Arayik
Petrosyan.

Remind that Arshaluis Hakobyan conducted an observation mission
in Malatia-Sebastia District during the municipal election of May
31. Hakobyan was forcibly removed from polling station 8/23. Later
he reported to the Prosecutor’s Office on the ill-treatment.

Michael Danielian says the human rights advocate was brutally beaten
up at the police station. His head was bleeding and there were bruises
all over the body. They possess a forensic report. Arshaluis Hakobyan
was kept at the police station for two days.

He is charged with Article 316 of Armenia’s Criminal Code (violence
against a government representative).

During a conversation to A1+, Michael Danielian noted that
the authorities seem to have forgotten about an observer’s
inviolability. The police have been instructed to take Hakobyan under
a two-month preliminary arrest.

After this scandalous incident, the RoA Police has placed the following
information on its website.

"On June 5 two representatives of the Kentron Police Department visited
Arshaluis H., 1972, to hand him a summons. Arshaluis H. was a bit drunk
and signed in the wrong place. After the policemen warned him against
the mistake, Arshaluis began railing at them, threw a cigarette on
them, slapped one of the policemen and beat the other. The policemen
were forced to take Arshaluis H. to a police station.