Order to Arrest Postanjyan Came from Presidential Office: Human Rights Activist

The investigation into National Assembly deputy Zaruhi Postanjyan’s brother Tigran Postanjyan’s case concluded at 11:20 am this morning, said Postanjyan’s attorney Hayk Alumyan, speaking to journalists today, adding there’s been a pile of violations since the moment this case was initiated.

Recall, according to Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s office, Tigran Postanjyan, who works for the local government of Yerevan’s Arabkir district, was paid 100,000 drams (about $275 US) last September to turn a blind eye to illegal construction carried out by an unnamed local resident. A criminal case was instituted under Article 311 Section 1 (taking bribes by a state official) of the RA Criminal Code.

According to Alumyan, the court, unable to find a legitimate reason for arresting his client, invented a reason according to which both Postanjyan and the other parties in the case live in the same community and the accused might exert pressure on them. For this reason, he is being kept under arrest. The attorney considers such actions to be absurd, saying that even in fixing the case, one must be professional.

Postanjyan’s attorney also informed the press that his client has refused to give a testimony based on the fact that the National Security Service (NSS) does not have the right to examine this case.

Also speaking to journalists today, head of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office Artur Sakunts touched upon the issue that Tigran Postanjyan is being prohibited from meeting his relatives, notably his sister, MP Zaruhi Postanjyan.

“It’s a very dirty attack and oppression typical of ’37 [referring to Stalin’s Year of Terror, also known as the Great Purge]. The NSS has taken Tigran Postanjyan hostage, in order to force his sister, who carries out active civic and political activities, as well as being active in the arena of human rights, to become passive,” he said.

According to Sakunts, the NSS is a body that carries out political persecution and receives political orders from the authorities, and the order to arrest Tigran Postanjyan came from the presidential office.

“Who appoints the NSS chief, who can give an order? Not [RA Prime Minister] Tigran Sargsyan, but [Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan,” he said.

Another participant in today’s press conference, Helsinki Committee of Armenia Chair Avetik Ishkhanyan, said not only the NSS but also the prosecution and the other judicial bodies are under political influence.

Ishkhanyan noted that during the investigation, Tigran Postanjyan’s presumption of innocence was violated and that’s completely sufficient for the case to be sent to the European Court.

Note, Postanjyan’s presumption of innocence was publicly violated by Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Robert Melkonyan, who, speaking about Zaruhi Postanjyan on Kentron TV, said, “Who was forcing her brother to get involved in bribery?”