Epress.am News from Armenia
Human rights defender, attorney Artak Zeynalyan arrived at Yerevan's central police station Monday to defend those who were protesting Russian President Vladimir Putin's Dec. 2 visit to Armenia; however, he was allowed to neither enter the premises nor provide legal assistance.
Speaking to journalists today, Zeynalyan said he witnessed how police obstructed the work of staff of the RA Human Rights Defender's Office.
"They [detainees] were taken to the police [station] not to write up a report but to suppress their right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Responsibility lies with the police, regardless of which division they [the detainees] were taken. The aim was to subordinate Armenia's sovereignty to the Customs Union. Persecution was carried out for political purposes. The beatings that occurred in vehicles was inhumane treatment, and the use of force was not proportionate. The use of handcuffs is also inhumane treatment. Citizens' right to privacy was restricted, since they weren't allowed to use the phone," he said.
According to the human rights attorney, he is noting the violations by referring to the European Convention on Human Rights, since Armenia's Constitution, according to Zeynalyan, "isn't worth a penny in our country".