Family of Accused in ‘Gang Case’ to Appeal to European Court of Human Rights

Ira Davtyan, mother-in-law of David Galstyan (pictured), one of the accused in the "gang case," informed local daily Zhoghovurd today that she plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) regarding her son-in-law being beaten while in police custody. 

The Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan rejected Davtyan's application to launch criminal proceedings, after which she appealed to the Court of Cassation. Davtyan, however, said she has no expectations from the domestic courts and is preparing to apply to the ECtHR. The accused's mother-in-law also claims that former police chief of Shirak marz (province) Karen Babakekhyan beat her son-in-law.

In this case, 5 people are arrested and accused of committing burglary in September 2011. The accused (and their lawyers) claims that they are being tortured and testimony obtained under such conditions shouldn't be admitted in court and become grounds for prosecution. 

One of the accused, Arman Dallakyan, 41, died on Sept. 7, 2013, in the hospital for prisoners. His mother told Epress.am that not only was her son beaten, but also his parents weren't allowed to take him his medication.