7 Minors Detained, Says Human Rights Defender

The rapid response teams of the Human Rights Defender’s Office of Armenia continue to conduct visits to various departments of the Yerevan police, particularly in the Centers of Kentron, Arabkir, Erebuni, Kanaker-Zeytun, Shengavit, Malatia, and Mashtots.

Interviews have been held with 35 persons deprived of liberty, and footage related to administrative detentions has been studied. This was reported by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

It was also noted that 7 minors were detained by police departments, one of whom is just 13 years old. According to information provided by the children and other witnesses, the 13-year-old was put into a car by 4 police officers, while the others were taken by 4-6 officers.

Witnesses reported that when the 13-year-old was being put into the police car, some participants in the gathering informed the officers about the child’s age, but this information was not taken into account.

No administrative proceedings were initiated against the child, and he was released from the police station.

Continuous monitoring of videos released by mass media and visits to police departments revealed cases of detaining individuals without providing grounds for deprivation of liberty, failing to explain minimum rights (rights to a lawyer, to silence, to make a phone call, and other rights), and cases of using disproportionate physical force during detentions.

In the police departments, deficiencies were noted in the logging of detained individuals, including the fact that during a visit to the Nor Nork police department, it was recorded that a person detained under Article 182 of the Code of Administrative Offenses was released, but the precise time of their release was missing from the entry log, despite the individual allegedly having acknowledged and signed the authenticity of the entries made.

During visits to the Central police department and those of Malatia and Shengavit, obstacles were also noted that hindered the right of detainees to make phone calls, which were rectified with the intervention of the Defender’s representatives.

During a visit to the Central police department, representatives of the Defender met in private with attorney Aleksan Tumasyan, who informed that he did not participate in the protest but attempted to obtain clarification from the police regarding the legal grounds for the administrative detention of his client.

The issues recorded are being summarized at the Human Rights Defender’s Office, and necessary measures will be taken within the jurisdiction of the Defender.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia notes that the procedures applied by police officers for the administrative detention of citizens manifest gross violations of various rights and freedoms. Specifically, the failure of police officers to present any legal demands, to explain grounds for deprivation of liberty, and to clarify minimum rights of individuals, as well as the continued use of disproportionate physical force by police officers, are observed.

In light of the above, the Human Rights Defender urges the Armenian police to demonstrate appropriate and lawful behavior in the performance of their official duties, ensuring opportunities for the realization of the minimum rights of individuals deprived of their liberty. The rapid response teams of the Human Rights Defender’s Office will continue to conduct 24-hour monitoring, including expressions of extreme and dangerous speech.