Lawyer Karen Alaverdyan's Actions Explained: Pulling Police Officers' Clothes, Pushing, and Hitting Them

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has issued a clarification regarding the situation surrounding lawyer Karen Alaverdyan from the RA Bar Association.

"Considering that during the press conference convened today, the statements made by RA Bar Association lawyer K. Alaverdyan regarding the criminal case concerning him have raised certain questions in the public and media, the Investigative Committee finds it necessary to clarify the following.

Based on materials received on June 7, 2023, from the Central Division of the Police of Yerevan, two individuals were arrested on reasonable suspicion of hooliganism during a court session at the Central Court of Yerevan. Around 4:40 PM, two more individuals approached the specified citizens at the division. Despite several requests directed at them to wait outside, they deliberately disrupted public order, shouted loudly, uttered insults, and attempted to forcibly enter the administrative building of the division, thereby disrupting its normal operations.

Based on reasonable suspicion of hooliganism, these two citizens were arrested and taken to the Central Division of the Police. A report was submitted by the police stating that one of the arrested individuals behaved inadequately in the office, screamed, and obstructed the normal activities of the police officers. He pushed an officer, struck him, and began to insult other officers in the division. Physical force was used by police officers, as well as special measures such as handcuffs, to restrain him since he was hitting them and the furniture in the office with his head and feet.

During this incident, K. Alaverdyan entered the office, identifying himself as the lawyer of one of the arrested individuals. Upon seeing his client in handcuffs, he entered into conflict with the police officers, pulling at their clothes, pushing them, hitting them, and attempting to free his client from the division. According to the report, his actions obstructed the police from performing their duties, particularly preventing them from drawing up the relevant arrest protocol.

After unsuccessful attempts to calm K. A., physical force was used against him, along with special measures such as handcuffs, and he was arrested on reasonable suspicion of hooliganism and violence against a representative of the authorities.

On June 7, 2023, based on the incident, a criminal case was initiated in the Central and Norq-Marbash investigative divisions of the Investigative Committee under Articles 297 (Part 2, Point 1), 452 (Part 3), and 489 (Part 1) of the RA Criminal Code.

Based on the facts obtained during the pre-investigation, on June 8, fulfilling the submitted motions, the supervising prosecutor's decision led to public criminal prosecution against two of the arrested individuals under Article 297 (Part 2, Point 1) of the RA Criminal Code, including K. Alaverdyan under Article 297 (Part 2, Point 1) and Article 452 (Part 3). Charges have been brought against them.

As a preventive measure against the accused K. A., a ban on leaving the RA has been applied. Against the other three accused, the court has chosen pre-trial detention as a preventive measure. During the pre-investigation phase, forensic examinations have been ordered to determine the existence, nature, and degree of severity of bodily injuries on three of the defendants.

Efforts have been made to obtain video recordings from the security cameras present in the administrative building of the Central Division of Police and the Central Court of Yerevan that may be of interest for the investigation.

Additionally, K. A. filed a report on June 7 regarding the simultaneous beating of his client, who was on the ground, by several police officers, as well as obstruction to his professional activity, being pulled, and the application of undue physical force and special measures against him.

A separate criminal case has been initiated based on this report under Article 450 (Part 1) of the RA Criminal Code in the Central and Norq-Marbash investigative divisions. This case has been referred to the RA Investigative Committee’s Special Investigative Unit for pre-investigation purposes.

The investigation into the criminal cases continues, and all circumstances of the incident are being clarified through an impartial inquiry.

Notice: A person accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the legal procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a legally binding court decision.