Two Charges Filed Against Samvel Vardanyan; Case Set to Enter Court Soon

According to the daily newspaper «Zhoghovurd», the shocking incident of torture and humiliation involving ordinary citizen Samvel Vardanyan, which took place on April 15, continues to remain unpunished.

Recall that on April 15, during public transport, young Samvel Vardanyan targeted MP Hakob Aslanyan of the CP faction, calling him "a dirty traitor." After the incident, he was arrested, and while being transferred to the investigative holding center, masked thugs beat him, tortured him, and subjected him to sexual humiliation.

Currently, the investigation regarding two charges against Samvel Vardanyan for hooliganism and inciting enmity based on political views has concluded, and the case is set to enter court soon. However, nothing has been done regarding the case of the torturers; it remains unclear who the accompanying police officers were, who the members of the masked gang were, and what punishment awaits them.

Following the incident, a month ago, «Zhoghovurd» sent an inquiry to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, asking how the leader of a government that has proclaimed democracy as its primary brand evaluates and what steps he has taken regarding this impunity. The inquiries were forwarded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The ministry responded: "With the letter from April 22, 2024, from the Department of Internal Security and Anti-Corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we inform you that the service investigation regarding the alleged violence against citizen Samvel Vardanyan has been suspended and it has been decided to address it based on the final results of the legal assessment in the criminal case number 57120424 being investigated by the Main Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee. We will notify you about the results later."

It is worth noting that during Samvel Vardanyan’s transfer from the investigative service to the holding center, individuals dressed entirely in black pulled him out of the vehicle, took him a few meters away into the grass, knelt him down, and struck his head against the ground. Apparently, the swelling on his forehead was a consequence of this incident. They began hitting him with their hands, and the entire process was accompanied by sexual insults and last words.

Furthermore, the assailants demanded that Samvel repeat the sexual insults directed at him. They then collectively spat on him. After that, while keeping him in a kneeling position with his hands handcuffed behind his back, they lowered his pants and menacingly held a piece of wood or a "baton" between his legs, as if intending to display, threaten, or intimidate him. No one has been punished for these acts; it has now been over a month since the incident.