Criminal Proceedings Initiated Based on Defender's Letter Regarding Torture of Tigran Arakelyan

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has announced that a criminal proceeding has been initiated concerning the alleged torture of citizen Tigran Arakelyan, based on a letter from the Defender.

“Considering the widespread public interest in the live broadcast already disseminated by Tigran Arakelyan on social networks and media, we inform you that on June 19, a call was received at the hotline of the Human Rights Defender’s office from Tigran Arakelyan. He stated that he was in a detention center and that violence had been used against him by the investigation body. Immediately after receiving the call, representatives of the Defender visited the detention facility and met with Tigran Arakelyan.

During the private conversation, all the issues raised by him were documented and sent to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia on the same day, for consideration within the framework of the criminal proceedings. The Defender’s office has received information that a criminal proceeding has been initiated based on the Defender’s letter regarding the alleged torture of Tigran Arakelyan by the investigation body. The progress of the initiated criminal proceedings is under the direct attention of the Defender,” the Human Rights Defender's office stated.