DEATH OF A SUSPECT AT THE CHARENTSAVAN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Lragir.am
27/04/10
Paris-Yerevan
the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), its member
organisation the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the Armenian Helsinki
Committee and the Foundation against the Violation of Law condemn
the death of Vahan Khalafyan at the Charentsavan Police Department
on April 13, 2010.
On April 13, 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan was taken to the Charentsavan
Police Department along with three other young men. They were suspected
of stealing clothes worth 1.5 million drams (approximately 2885 EURO)
at the beginning of the month. According to the announcement of the
Head of the Police Alik Sargsyan of April 14, they were they were
taken to the police department at 4:50 p.m. Vahan Khalafyan’s mother
claimed on April 19 that her son had been taken to the police around
10:30 a.m. without any notice.
At around 5:00 p.m., Vahan Khalafyan died at the Charentsavan Police
Department as a result of stab wounds. The Police announced on April
14 that he had committed suicide.
A criminal case was launched on April 13, 2010 by the Kotayk province
Investigation Department according to Article 110, part 1 (causing
somebody to commit suicide) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of
Armenia. On April 23, 2010, Moris Hayrapetyan, Officer of the Criminal
Investigation Department was charged with this article as well as
with Article 309 of the Criminal Code (Exceeding official duties)
and was taken to pre-trial detention.
FIDH, CSI, the Armenian Helsinki Committee and the Foundation against
the Violation of Law express their deep concern about the death of
Vahan Khalafyan. The State should investigate the exact circumstances
of this death and bring those responsible to justice.
This is not the first case of a citizen dying at police department
in Armenia. As previously reported by FIDH and CSI*, on May 12, 2008
Levon Gulyan who had been summoned to the police station as a witness
died in the Police Headquarters of the Republic of Armenia and until
now no one has been found responsible for his death. Moreover, on
February 5, 2010, the Criminal Court of Appeal rejected the appeal
of his legal successors against the decision of the oourt of First
Instance to close the case.
Our organisations are deeply concerned by the seemingly pervasive
culture of impunity for crimes committed by or under the responsibility
of law enforcement bodies in Armenia.
FIDH, CSI, the Armenian Helsinki Committee and the Foundation against
the Violation of Law call the Armenian authorities: To conduct an
immediate and efficient investigation on Vahan Khalafyan’s death; To
ensure that the perpetrators be brought to trial before a competent,
independent and impartial court in accordance with national criminal
law and in strict respect of international human rights principles
and standards; To investigate impartially the responsibility of the
high ranking officials who fail to prevent the repetition of such
cases which therefore contributes to the culture of impunity.
To fully conform with the provisions of the European Convention on the
Prevention of Torture and the UN Convention against Torture and other
Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ratified by the
Republic of Armenia, which clearly imposes to a State an obligation to
investigate and prosecute allegations of torture and inhuman treatment.