Truncheoned youth arrested
Tigran Arakelian, an activist of the youth wing of the Armenian National Congress (HAK), was taken under arrest on July 5. He was among the HAK activists truncheoned in Abovian Street on July 1 for distributing flyers about HAK's rally. On July 1 Arakelian was hit in the head with a pistol handle. Later he was taken to hospital with two other batonned activists.
Yesterday Tigran Arakelian was called to the Kentron Police Department as a witness but later he was taken under detention as a suspect.
So far no charges have been filed against Tigran Arakelian. He is accused of beating a hefty policeman - Erik Poghosian. The latter had given evidence against opposition activists charged with the March 1 post-election unrest.
"In the police department Tigran was accused of attacking policemen, beating and chasing them with a gun. It's a total absurd! In reality, Tigran Arakelian was violently beaten up by Kentron policemen on July 1. From the legal point of view he is a sufferer. I can call this a cynicism," HAK's senior representative Armen Khachatrian said to A1+.
Tigran Arakelian was interrogated in the police department within the realms of Article 258 of the Criminal Code and was accused of hooliganism. By law, charges must be brought against the suspect within 72 hours otherwise he will be freed.
Yesterday the police examined another HAK activist, 16-year-old Sahak Muradian who had received a concussion of the brain in Abovian Street on July 1. The police made Muradian give a written cognizance not to leave the republic.
HAK's youth wing has condemned the Tigran Arakelian's arrest. "The chase against our young activists shows that Armenian authorities have targeted at the youth who long for freedom and struggle against this unlawful regime. We strictly condemn this crime against Armenia's statehood and future and demand that the authorities release our friend. We also announce that we shall spare no effort to restore legitimate power in this country."
Tigran Mherian went on a hunger-strike minutes ago.
