EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR THE PREVENTION OF TORTURE IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
22/05/10
The delegation of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture
and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is currently in
Armenia. Representatives of the committee had meetings with members of
the Armenian human rights organizations and law enforcement bodies.
The head of the Helsinki Association Michael Danielyan said the
members of the European committee are very well aware of the cases of
torture in Armenia. `I have answered all their questions’, says
Michael Danielyan.
The questions concerned concrete people tortured during March 1
events, including Kistopor Elazyan, as well as pressure by the law
enforcement bodies against witnesses.
The members of the European Committee for the prevention of Torture
were interested in the deaths of Levon Gulyan, Vahan Khalafyan who
were called to the police for an investigation. They asked about these
two cases during their meeting with the prosecutor general too.
We learn from the message spread by the Prosecutor’s office that the
representatives of the committee underscored the necessity for an
effective control, mechanisms to discuss alarms of use of alien
methods during investigations.
Prosecutor general in answer to this question said that the most
effective way of struggle is the punishing policy.
Human rights defender Michael Danielyan qualified this answer of the
prosecutor general as a `big bluff’. Danielyan told European delegates
that torture in Armenia continues and the power does not take up steps
in this connection.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
