From the first day of the demonstrations in Yerevan, the Human Rights Defender’s Office has worked in a 24-hour regime. During those days 459 calls on protestors’ rights were received via hotline. 24-hour monitoring of media publications and social network were carried out.
During 70 visits to police divisions and detention facilities representatives of the Defender’s Office had private interviews with 974 detained persons. Private interviews were held with 22 arrestees.
During the visits, examination of the information obtained from private interviews with detained persons and relevant documents revealed issues related to failure to inform the detained persons about the reasons of their detention, failure to inform these persons about their rights, filling in of incomplete data in respective police registries, incidents of keeping people for a time-period exceeding that prescribed by the law. Incidents of impeding access of advocates to police units were also revealed, which, however, were solved with the support of the Defender’s representatives. The complaints addressed to the Human Rights Defender, as well as publications attest that in a number of cases police officers used excessive physical force while apprehending protesters, including juveniles. Complaints related to the use of special measures have been addressed to the Defender. There have been records of publications of detentions or detention attempts by individuals in civil clothes using personal cars or means of transportation not registered by Armenian authorities.
Incidents related to obstruction of journalists’ activities, as well as clashes between protestors have been summarized, and they must be subject to thorough examination.
In relation to the recorded issues, we find it necessary to mention that the State shall ensure the constitutionally guaranteed right to physical integrity and humane treatment of persons deprived of liberty. All the rights of persons deprived of liberty shall receive full protection. This refers to the mandatory minimum rights that are enshrined both in RA international treaties and RA Constitution. In any case, the insufficient resources of a state body cannot justify, for instance, keeping a person in detention for a time period exceeding that prescribed by law. Relevant registries must be properly filled in at police divisions, regardless of how long a person has been kept in the division, how many persons are apprehended and so on.
During those days The Defender's Office paid special attention to the protection of children's rights as well. Requests for immediate release of detained juveniles and special treatment towards them were presented.
It is worth mentioning that the significant part of recorded issues, in all possible cases, has been resolved by the support of the representatives of the Defender's Office on the spot, including as a result of cooperation with competent police officers.
The issues recorded as a result of the visits, as well as the complaints addressed to the Defender, were summarized and within the discussion procedure have been sent to relevant bodies, including the ones responsible for criminal prosecution.