Sacrificing the policeman for Europe
Commander of a squad, the 2nd company, 1st battalion, 1st regiment of the State Police Field Service of Yerevan Gegham Harutyunyan is not the only policeman who applied force against citizens on March 1, but the Special Investigative Service charged him with part 2, Article 309 of the Criminal Code.
Advocates don't welcome the criminal case brought up against Gegham Harutyunyan and they have their explanations.
"I am certain that they will not sentence Gegham Harutyunyan. They will declare amnesty and release him. His arrest is only to show Europe that the authorities are punishing a policeman. They are simply sacrificing Harutyunyan for Europe," president of the Helsinki Association, advocate Mikayel Danielyan told "A1+".
Why did they choose Harutyunyan when there are many videos showing policemen beating citizens? In response, the advocate said:
"I believe that Harutyunyan must go on pension and the police don't need him anymore. If the authorities really plan to punish policemen for the violence, they must first punish the policemen who used the "Cheryomukha-7" device."
President of the Armenian "Helsinki" Committee, advocate Avetik Ishkhanyan doesn't remember a time in the history of independent Armenia when a policeman has been sentenced for applying force against a citizen. As for the events of March 1, 2008, Ishkhanyan mentioned: "I would like law-enforcement bodies to be independent and give a corresponding evaluation of the policemen who committed actions. I don't think charging Gegham Harutyunyan is the first loop of the chain."
Ishkhanyan believes that the decision to punish Gegham Harutyunyan was taken as a result of discussions. We weren't able to find out why Gegham Harutyunyan was the only one who was punished because the press speaker for the Prosecutor was not available.
