The Police Have the Right to Detain a Member of Parliament: Fidanian Explains the Procedure

We have one apparent case of police violence, for which materials are being prepared; in the remaining cases, there was no violence on the part of the police. This was stated by Deputy Chief of Police Ara Fidanian during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly, referring to the actions taken by police against protesters.

“Lawful actions have taken place, and if any circumstances emerge later, we will make an appropriate statement. Detaining a person under criminal procedural regulations implies the use of certain force against that person,” said Fidanian.

Regarding the legality of detaining MPs Aram Vardevanyan and Ashot Simonyan for blocking the road, Fidanian remarked, “Yes, they were detained for blocking the street, meaning that an apparent violation occurred; immunity applies to holding specific individuals accountable under criminal law. Until the identities of the relevant individuals are clarified, the police have the right to detain them. Violating traffic regulations constitutes an administrative offense; this does not mean that individuals benefiting from immunity should also be exempt from administrative violations,” stated Deputy Chief of Police Ara Fidanian.