FIDH CALLS FOR TRANSPARENT INVESTIGAION ON VAHAN KHALAFYAN’S DEATH

Tert.am
19:18 27.04.10

On April 27, 2010, the International Federation for Human Rights
(FIDH), its member organization the Civil Society Institute (CSI), the
Armenian Helsinki Committee and the Foundation against the Violation
of Law released a statement condemning the death of Vahan Khalafyan
at the Charentsavan Police Department on April 13, 2010.

The statement reads as follows:

"On April 13, 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan was taken to the Charentsavan
Police Department along with three other young me suspected of stealing
clothes worth 1.5 million AMD earlier this month. According to the
announcement of the Head of the Police Alik Sargsyan made on April 14,
they were taken to the police department at 4:50 pm. Vahan Khalafyan’s
mother claimed on April 19 that her son had been taken to the police
around 10:30 am without any prior notice about it.

"At around 5:00 pm, Vahan Khalafyan was reported to have 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 Part 1 of Article 110 (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 (speculating on one’s
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 Court
of First Instance to close the case.

"Our organizations 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:

~U To conduct an immediate and efficient investigation on Vahan
Khalafyan’s death

~U 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

~U 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.

~U 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.