Lawyer Karen Alaverdyan was not only abused by the police at the central police department of Yerevan, but was also detained. Alaverdyan said this to a press conference Tuesday.
He said that on June 7, he and his client participated in a court session scheduled for a criminal case at the Kentron seat of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court, during which a conversation arose between his client and his friend about issues of friendship, which, according to the lawyer, cannot contain elements of a crime.
"The court session was postponed due to the non-appearance of the witnesses. After the session, my client and I were calmly walking on the sidewalk in front of the court when 20-30 policemen and patrolmen from different departments approached us. Showing an unprofessional approach, they could not explain for a long time the purpose of approaching (…). Finally, I understood that the police were inviting my client to the police station. I demanded the factual and legal basis of the actions performed by him and which officer we will deal with; but it was not possible to find out all that. Then my client expressed his desire to go to the police station and requested that I, as a lawyer, follow him in order to show legal support. He sat in the car of patrol officers without coercion. It is noteworthy that the operation was carried out by patrols with video cameras attached to them, and everything should be recorded. After 5 minutes, I appeared before the police station, stated the purpose of my visit, presented the certificate, etc.," Alaverdyan said.
According to the lawyer, artificial obstacles were created before him in the aforesaid police department for 5-10 minutes in every way to get to his client.
"After a long struggle, I managed to climb up to him. From outside, I heard my client's screams and demands not to hit him. First, two police officers tried to prevent me from opening the office door. I overcame their obstacles, opened the door, and found my client lying on the ground, handcuffed from behind, and 5-6 police officers hitting him at the same time. I approached my client, lifted him from the ground, tried to stop, stood with my hands on him. I urged them not to engage in dialogue with my client because the level of their approach and conversation was similar to a street fight. At my request, the police left the room, so that the judicial officer could stay," the lawyer said.
Alaverdyan noted that after a short time the aforementioned violence was repeated.
"I was smoking a cigarette for a moment. Very suddenly the mentioned police officer started shouting at my client, and immediately the door opened again, and the same group entered the office, taking me aside. After I was taken out of the office, they made aggressive demands to leave the police building. I objected in every way, tried to return to my client, unnecessary physical force was suddenly applied to me. I have not committed any illegal act on the basis of which I would be detained. Unnecessary physical force was applied to me without any basis, I was detained, handcuffed, and special measures were applied. I was subjected to all possible violations related to the detention process. There was a lack of reasonable doubt, the fleeing part is mentioned. What kind of escape can we talk about if I was trying to return to my client in every way, the detention protocol was drawn up 50 minutes after I was taken into custody, in the case when there were many employees at the investigative body, and there was no objective reason for the detention protocol to be so long? I was not given a copy of the detention [protocol], the president of the Chamber of Advocates [of Armenia] was not informed about my detention, etc.," the lawyer said.
Alaverdyan noted that the investigator made a decision to release him after the maximum of 6 hours of detention.
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