APRIL 9 EVENTS IN YEREVAN: ARMENIA’S OMBUDSMAN HIGHLIGHTS PROBLEMS

16:21 ~U 16.04.13

With respect to the April 9 events Yerevan in Armenia’s Human Rights
Defender (Ombudsman) Karen Andreasyan has highlighted three major
legal problems: blocking of Baghramyan Avenue, detention of 16
marchers and complete solution of the incident involving Heritage
party Vice-Chairman Armen Martirosyan.

During a march Heritage party Chairman Raffi Hovannisian held on
April 9, Martirosyan was beaten by policemen.

With respect to the incident, the Ombudsman says: “The
media-disseminated video shows that, after offering resistance,
Armen Martirosyan was neutralized by a group of policemen. But even
after he stopped resisting, one of the policemen went on to kick him
in the face.”

According to Article 29 of Armenia’s Law on Police, policemen can
exercise physical force if they cannot properly perform their duties
using any other legal means.

“The special attention to the incident by the chief of Armenia’s
police is praiseworthy because one policeman’s illegal actions could
cast aspersions on the tremendous – and in many respects positive
-work of Armenia’s police on April 9.

“We expect all the citizens involved in the incident that violated
law to be held adequately responsible,” the Ombudsman’s statement says.

Armenian News – Tert.am

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress