Cases of tortures remain unpunished in Armenia: human rights activists (video)
In police divisions, prisons, military units, during peaceful rallies, citizens are subjected to tortures by the law enforcement officers. This situation was presented by Armenian human rights activists from November 23-24 during the session of the UN Committee against Tortures held in Geneva. Representatives from the Armenian Government were also present in the session. “Armenia’s Government lost to the civil society. Objective observers assessed that we, the civil society, are right and the representatives of Armenia’s authorities weren’t able to present relevant counterarguments,” says human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan. Every year after this meeting Armenian Government does not put enough efforts in order to make tortures by the law enforcement officers punishable. Human rights activists note. Advocate Hayk Alumyan brings facts. Former Deputy Minister of Defense Vahan Shirkhanyan, who has been in custody since last year’s December, has been in the NSS isolation cell for already 8 months in spite of serious health problems. He is deprived of bath, sunlight as well as appropriate medical aid. “Vahan Shirkhanyan has taken 4000 pills, but his health condition not only hasn’t improved, but is deteriorating day by day. If it isn’t a torture, what is it?,” says advocate Hayk Alumyan. In Armenia citizens are often subjected to torture during peaceful rallies and in police division after having been taken to police stations. The rallies in Yerevan after the murder of the Avetisyan family in Gyumri in 2015 as well as protests of Electric Yerevan singled out with the cases of torture. Police actions were exceptional with the cases of tortures this year in July after the actions of Sasna Dzrer. “The main problem is the atmosphere of impunity, because the police in Armenia act not according to the law, but according to instructions,” says human rights activist Avetik Ishkhanyan. Armenia has adopted constitution close to international standards, planning punishments in case of tortures, but practically the law is incomplete. What’s more, in many cases a person does not receive any compensation for violated rights. “Even when the state bogy recognizes the violation of the right, it doesn’t mean that human rights are defended. Just compensation should be provided,” says human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan. According to the assessment of the human rights activists, in order to overcome the atmosphere of impunity we don’t need new laws; we need implementation of the existing laws.
