Case of Violence by Police Against Citizens Sent to Court

Considering the questions addressed to the prosecutorial authority by the media regarding the criminal case of violence against two citizens by traffic police officers on August 22, 2020, as well as the recently circulated video and sometimes misleading publications about the incident, we find it necessary to provide a more detailed account of the circumstances of the aforementioned criminal case.

Thus, based on sufficient evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation of the criminal case examined by the Special Investigative Service of the Republic of Armenia, including the review of videos attached to the case materials and a forensic medical expert's conclusion, it has been established that three inspectors from the Road Police of the Republic of Armenia, namely Sargis Mnatsakanyan, Sahak Khachatryan, and Seyran Sargsyan, intentionally inflicted violence against citizens, clearly exceeding their authority by striking Artur Mesropyan and Tigran Mesropyan with their hands and feet.

In particular, on August 22, 2020, around 20:00, while performing their duties on Moscow Street in Yerevan, Road Police inspectors Sargis Mnatsakanyan and Sahak Khachatryan noticed a vehicle belonging to Artur Mesropyan parked in a prohibited area, after which it was moved to a designated area under the supervision of the Road Police. On the same day, at 22:20, Artur Mesropyan, accompanied by his relative Tigran Mesropyan, visited the first police battalion of the Road Police located at 14 Tairyan Street in Yerevan, where he demanded clarifications from inspectors Sargis Mnatsakanyan and Sahak Khachatryan regarding the reasons for moving his vehicle and uttered obscene remarks of a sexual nature directed at the police officers.

Instead of taking measures to hold Artur Mesropyan accountable for his unlawful behavior, Mnatsakanyan and Khachatryan, exceeding their powers, inflicted violence against him, delivering multiple blows to various parts of his body, causing physical injuries. During this time, Tigran Mesropyan attempted to intervene, but Mnatsakanyan and his colleague, Road Police inspector Seyran Sargsyan, also inflicted violence against Tigran Mesropyan, striking him on various parts of his body.

Charges have been brought against the three inspectors of the Road Police under part 2 of Article 309 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia for the commission of the aforementioned criminal acts. A decision by the investigator has terminated their official duties. The criminal case against the above-mentioned officials of the Road Police was submitted to the supervising prosecutor with an accusatory conclusion on December 28, 2020. This conclusion was approved by the prosecutor and the criminal case was sent to court.

Notice: A suspect or accused in a presumed crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a legally binding court judgment.