Support Provided to 45 Detained Individuals, Ombudsman Reports

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has summarized the results of rapid response visits and ongoing monitoring conducted on May 6. The rapid response groups of the Defender's Office visited four police stations today, providing consultation and support for the exercise of rights to more than 45 individuals.

The visits revealed numerous violations, notably incidents obstructing the exercise of the minimum rights of detained individuals to make at least one phone call. There were reports of both failure to inform detainees of their opportunity to make at least one call and situations where the presence of a lawyer was used as a rationale to limit this right.

Moreover, there has been a widespread practice in police stations of forcibly disconnecting the phones of individuals under administrative detention, creating an impression that the right to make phone calls is absent. Such behavior is especially condemnable when involving minors.

In all recorded cases, the right to make phone calls has been granted upon the request of the citizens through the intervention of the Defender's rapid response groups. The Defender notes that police officers are obligated to ensure the opportunity for individuals to make at least one call, and any limitation on the exercise of this right during administrative detention cannot be justified.

The next issue concerns foreign nationals detained under administrative detention who were not informed of their minimum rights in a language they understand. Specifically, in the Erebuni Police Department, two individuals claimed they could not read Armenian, yet the rights information was provided to them in Armenian, even though they do not comprehend the language. The Defender emphasizes that informing individuals of their rights should not be merely formal; it must genuinely guarantee the actual ability to exercise those rights, allowing detained individuals to receive information about their rights in a language they understand.

Rapid response groups of the Defender noted a case at the Arabkir police station where a detained citizen was without shoes; furthermore, they were not given the opportunity to make a call until the representatives of the Defender intervened.

At the Center police department, a 16-year-old individual detained near the Victory Bridge reported sustaining injuries allegedly due to excessive force by the police during the detention. According to this individual, their glasses were also broken during the police actions. Other individuals detained from the same location also reported various types of injuries and damage to clothing.

Regarding these incidents, the Defender has stated that they will address the appropriate authorities with a request for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Continuous monitoring by the Defender's office has also revealed incidents of police violence, including a case where an elderly woman was struck and pushed by a police officer, an action that is particularly unacceptable given the elderly individual’s limited ability to resist due to their age.

The Defender once again warns that such conduct by police officers is unacceptable and condemnable, and every such case should be subject to detailed investigation.

Monitoring has also recorded various instances of insulting remarks and actions aimed at degrading the dignity of participants and non-participants of ongoing marches and gatherings. Instances were reported where disputes among individuals present in gatherings and those who were not were ignited due to blocked roads not being reopened, causing inconvenience to those rushing to hospitals.

The Human Rights Defender urges everyone to refrain from exhibiting intolerant behavior based on political preferences or opinions regarding participation or non-participation in gatherings, allowing disrespectful remarks towards each other, and engaging in any form of hateful or intolerant behavior.