Armenian Ombudsperson demands to initiate a case on beating "Sasna Tsrer" members in court

Investigators have been instructed to clear out the circumstances of using violence in the courthouse against five members of the "Sasna Tsrer" detachment, on whose bodies injuries were found, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) has stated. The police called the use of force justified, but the country's Ombudsperson has demanded an immediate criminal investigation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 28, before the court session on the case of 14 members of "Sasna Tsrer", a brawl broke out of defendants with policemen. Advocates reported traces of beatings on Areg Kyuregyan and Araik Khandoyan. According to Ara Papikyan, an advocate, the defendants Araik Khandoyan, Areg Kyuregyan, Smbat Barsegyan, Mkhitar Avetisyan and Gagik Egiazaryan were tortured in the courthouse.

An employee of the GPO's press service has stated that "on June 28, in the courtroom, policemen prevented an attempted transfer of some prohibited object by defendant Areg Kyuregyan to Smbat Barsegyan, after which Kyuregyan exhibited aggression, refused to obey policemen's lawful demands and tried to get out."

Then, "illegal behaviour of Smbat Barsegyan and Mkhitar Avetisyan followed."

According to the police of Armenia, "a proportionate physical force" was applied against the defendants, and statements about torture are "a fantasy." In response, some defendants "began expressing their discontent by banging the doors of their cells with their hands and feet."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.