Recently, the police released a statement that the violence against civilian activists are revealed. In particular, it was written: “Recently, unknown persons were accusing the police for displaying inactivity with regard to disclosure of the said criminal cases along with the information on cases of beatings and violence against the activists of civil actions. These accusations are baseless and do not meet the reality. Immediately after the incident, numerous operational and reconnaissance and investigative measures were conducted, examinations were assigned, eyewitnesses were discovered, video recordings were explored. Investigation of cases of violence against civilian activists are directly under the supervision of the Chief of Police, progress is reported every day.” And the detailed description was following as to what and how was done.
Next to a couple of “disclosed” cases there were still the ones unrevealed, one of which was the violence committed by unknown persons against Haykak Arshamyan and Suren Saghatelyan on September 5, as a result of which both got injured and were sent to hospital. We got interested from Suren Saghatelyan and Haykak Arshamyan as to how prompt the police was exactly for their case. S. Saghatelyan said,- “After the incident, I was in the hospital for three days. I can say that on the same day, September 5, police received written explanation of the incident from us. On the day of being discharged from the hospital, I was given a reference on passing a forensic examination. On the 9th day of the incident, in the evening, I got a call from the police, and the next day I and Haykak were called for the recognition of the victim. Papers were filled in and we answered the questions from the investigator. A criminal case was filed. On the 10th day after the incident, the same criminal investigators came and took fingerprints from Haykak’s car, and the investigators also fixed the cameras nearby. And whether they have done anything or not, I am not aware of, because I was in the hospital.” Suren Saghatelyan still has not fully recovered. “I still have headaches, I take medicine against headaches. And my finger is in the cast.” To note that Suren Saghatelyan was diagnosed with a brain concussion, and criminals had broke his nose and finger. Haykak Arshamyan confirmed that the inspection of the location was conducted only ten days later after the incident. “In our case, a forensic examination was assigned 4 days later after the incident. The car, in which Suren was beaten, was examined only 10 days later and fingerprints were taken, and only after PACE Commissioner Stefan Füle’s meetings and appeals to various instances.
As for the cameras, I would like to tell that the investigator was trying to enter one of the stores on Khorenatsi street on the 10th day to speak with the management about the camera, although, there are also dozens of SRC cameras in the street, and also a big camera attached to the light pole, most probably recording 380 degrees, which, I think, belong to the police or the City Hall. As for the beatings of activists at the City Hall, a criminal cases was filed only weeks later, again after Füle’s visit. So, Edik Baghdasaryan’s statement on the very first day that our case could be disclosed at the very same night, and criminals arrested, it still in force.” To note that Haykak Arshamyan has got two closed fractions of the rids and injuries on the face. “I’m not bad now, just my ribs still bother me and also the swelling of sutures on my face and cheek have not yet come down, but generally I am not bad,” – said he.
Read also
Melania BARSEGHYAN
