Gyumri Human Rights Defender Attacked by Criminal Division Employee

Gyumri human rights defender Karapet Poghosyan reported on his Facebook page that he was attacked by Artak Poghosyan, an employee of the Criminal Division of the Mush Police Department, at the "Basen" supermarket located on Paruyr Sevak Street in the Ani district.

He mentioned that there are also cameras in the store.

In an interview with NEWS.am, Karapet Poghosyan detailed the incident: "After going to church in the morning, I entered the store. Someone greeted me and asked how I was. I didn’t recognize him, so I simply said thank you, thinking he knew me from Facebook. He then introduced himself as Artak Poghosyan, a criminal officer who had broken my arm in the police station a year ago. I simply told him to stay away from me and that I had no questions to discuss with him. I turned to leave, and he attacked me from behind with blows and insults, all of which were recorded by the store's cameras," the human rights defender said, adding that according to his information, Artak Poghosyan is the deputy head of the Criminal Division of the Mush Police Department.

He noted that witnessing the incident from their car, his mother rushed to the store, only to be struck by the police criminal officer as well. Karapet Poghosyan stated that police officers had already visited their home regarding his post and informed them that the store's surveillance footage had been seized.