Reservist Generals Demand Criminal Prosecution Against Police Major, Onik Gasparyan Joins

The Public Organization "Union of Veterans of the Artsakh War" has issued a statement regarding the violent actions of police major Mikael Aivazyan against reservist colonel and Artsakh war veteran Arayik Muradyan.

Retired generals are calling for a criminal case to be initiated against the major. The statement reads:

"On the morning of May 17, 2022, in Pushkin Street, Yerevan, a group of police officers used violence without any reasonable justification against a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, reservist colonel Arayik Muradyan, who was walking on the sidewalk. The police first struck Arayik Muradyan with their fists on various parts of his body, threw him to the ground, and then continued to kick him for a prolonged period.

Before these violent actions were taken against reservist colonel and participant of all Artsakh wars Arayik Muradyan, the special forces unit of the Armenian police and its commanding officer, police major Mikael Aivazyan, were already aware that this individual is a reservist officer, a participant in three Artsakh wars, a third-degree war invalid, and someone who participated in military operations alongside his two sons during the 44-day war, and who has not yet fully recovered from his injuries.

However, this fact did not prevent the police officers from making derogatory statements in public, insulting Muradyan's human dignity, military honor, and status as a freedom fighter. Following this, physical violence was initiated against Arayik Muradyan on the orders of major Mikael Aivazyan, who actively participated in the assault. After this ordeal, Arayik Muradyan was taken to the police station and subsequently released after some time.

Sadly, we must note that the law enforcement officials, who are supposed to uphold the law and defend citizens' rights, are the ones who are currently the first to violate all written and unwritten legal, moral, and human norms. With particular zeal, the special forces of the Armenian police are employing physical and psychological violence against Armenian citizens, using physical force and striking even the elderly, women, girls, and teenagers, as well as parents and relatives of soldiers who lost their lives in the Artsakh war, as well as veterans and the disabled.

In light of the aforementioned incident, we demand the following from the director of the NSS of Armenia, Major-General Armen Vagharshak Abazyan, and the chief of police, Major-General Vahe Robert Qazaryan:

1. From NSS director, Major-General Armen Abazyan: Based on numerous publications in mass media and social networks, immediately initiate a criminal case regarding the violence, beating, and physical retribution against reservist colonel Arayik Muradyan by a group of special forces officers of the Armenian police on May 17, 2022, in Yerevan, and carry out criminal prosecution against police major Mikael Aivazyan and other police officers involved in the offense.
2. From the chief of police, Major-General Vahe Robert Qazaryan: Immediately suspend the officers involved in this incident from their official duties."

   Other participants in this statement include the Union of Reservist Officers "Homeland's Shield," the Movement of Reservist Officers, the Union of NSS Reservists, the Public Organization "Union of Veterans of the Artsakh War," the Armenian National Guard, and several retired generals.