Police Actions Yesterday Grossly Violated the Rights of Children Present at the Incident, Says Armenia's Human Rights Defender

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, issued a statement regarding the incident involving police actions in front of children. “Yesterday, immediately after the publication of videos showing the arrest of a family father in the presence of three children, the Human Rights Defender's office contacted a lawyer in the evening.

The lawyer reported that several dozen police officers, including armed ones, applied force against his clients, grossly violating the rights of the children present. This morning, the lawyer reported anew that a 5-year-old boy's health had deteriorated after the incident that occurred yesterday; the child vomited several times during the night and was taken to the ‘Surp Astvatsamayr’ medical center by ambulance at the time of the call.

Following the instructions of the Human Rights Defender, a rapid response group was dispatched to the ‘Surp Astvatsamayr’ medical center. There were private conversations and discussions with the arrested citizen, his wife, the 5-year-old child, the lawyer, the director of the medical center, and the doctor who provided care to the child.

It was revealed that the child was taken to the medical center in an ambulance this morning, experiencing nausea and having vomited five times since the previous night. At the time of transport to the medical center and afterward, the child was not in a state of seizures. Necessary medical assistance, including injections, was administered to the child, who subsequently felt better. There was no indication for hospitalization or further treatment.

The parents noted that they received appropriate care at the medical center, and the child was provided with the necessary assistance.

Regarding the police actions, it was found that the presence of a large number of police officers, some of whom were armed (weapons clearly visible to the children), and the rough manner in which they pulled the father and uncle away caused significant fear among the young children. The youngest child, a 5-year-old, was in the father’s arms when police forcefully pulled him away and out of the house, causing the child to cry.

Then, the police dragged out the 10 and 13-year-old girls from the house, who also kept crying. Throughout the arrest process, the children were continuously crying. The Human Rights Defender particularly notes that no work with the children was conducted, no support was provided, and no steps were taken to ensure the best interests of the children.

From the perspective of children's rights and their interests, it is especially condemnable to conduct demolition work in front of the children in such a tense atmosphere, as well as the coarse treatment of the father with the presence of the children. The police did not neutralize the dangers for the children; after being pulled from their home, the 5-year-old ran back inside the building that was targeted for demolition at that moment. Such a situation poses serious risks not only to the psychological state of the children but also to their physical health.

For example, in the chaotic situation created, it was possible that the police would overlook the child entering the building before the demolition work began. While dragging the father for arrest, upon hearing the children cry, he requested to be allowed to approach and calm them, as the children were alone at that moment, but the police did not allow it. This is particularly condemnable behavior.

As a result, the psychologically distressed children stood nearby and observed the entire demolition process. The arrested citizen mentioned that his children were particularly frightened by the presence of more than 40 police officers, some of whom were armed. The arrested individual reported that police officers twisted his arms and dragged him towards the police car, during which they pushed him to the ground and hit him. He has scratches on his hands and continues to feel pain in his back and ribs.

Additionally, the citizen claims that violence was also used against his wife's brother. The same was also noted by the children.

Information has also been conveyed to the Human Rights Defender's office that employees of the Yerevan city hall visited the specified address alongside police officers yesterday. According to the lawyer’s claims, some employees of the Yerevan city hall were under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it was clearly noticeable from their behavior and the smell of alcohol. These circumstances should also be subject to investigation.

The citizen who was arrested reported that he was held at the Malatia division of the police for about two hours, during which they did not explain the reasons for his arrest, his rights, and responsibilities; only at the end did he sign a document whose content he was unfamiliar with.

During private conversations, both the lawyer and the citizen reported that neither the police officers nor the city hall employees showed any concern for the children, even asking if they had another place to live. Meanwhile, the lawyer claims that during the period leading up to the demolition and during the demolition itself, considering the presence of minors, no psychologist or educator was present.

The Human Rights Defender specifically states that this declaration does not relate to questions regarding the legality of the demolition of the building, including the presence of police there. Separate measures will be taken by the Human Rights Defender regarding this matter.

The police actions from yesterday have been discussed with the leadership of the RA Police. The questions have received the necessary prompt response from the leadership of the Police, which is crucial for preventing such incidents in the future.

Letters will be sent from the Human Rights Defender's office to the Police, the Yerevan city hall, and the investigative agencies regarding the treatment of citizens during their arrest and the actions of police officers and city hall employees concerning the children.