Lawyer: Armenian government is presenting a distorted picture of the  dispersal of protesters outside parliament on June 12, 2024, to  international organizations

ArmInfo.The Armenian government is presenting a distorted picture of the events that took place on June 12, 2024, to international organizations, avoiding  accountability for the actions of the police and compensating the victims, as stated by lawyer Tatevik Soghoyan stated this at a press conference on August 21. 

"UN experts asked the government some rather pointed questions about  police violence on June 12, the replacement of the terrorism and  political persecution charges. In response, the authorities announced  the appointment of expert examinations. However, two years have  already passed. What kind of examination could document bruises or  signs of torture after such a long time? Meanwhile, the cases against  protesters were investigated within a month, but the police's use of  special means is still being 'investigated.' This is happening  despite the availability of video footage of beatings in the city  center," Soghoyan said. She noted that instead of investigating the  use of disproportionate force and special means against  demonstrators, law enforcement agencies are dragging their feet.

The lawyer also reported that the UN Human Rights Group is beginning  a large-scale effort to collect facts and testimonies from all those  affected by police actions on June 12, 2024 to submit  counterarguments and supplements to the UN experts. 

In turn, lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan pointed out that citizens who  suffered at the hands of law enforcement officers on June 12, 2024,  do not receive state assistance, but are instead subjected to  repeated criminal prosecution for demanding justice.

To illustrate this, he cited the story of a citizen named Yesayi, who  suffered severe injuries and disability as a result of a stun grenade  used by police during protests.

"Yesayi was injured, his fingers were torn off. It seems that in a  state governed by the rule of law, such a person would deserve  special attention. However, during the election campaign,  accidentally encountering Alen Simonyan's motorcade, he simply showed  his mutilated hand and said, 'You will be held accountable for this  according to the law.' Following this, his home was searched, his  belongings were seized, and today he has been charged with alleged  threats. Instead of caring for the person who suffered at the hands  of police, he is being persecuted again," Khudoyan noted. The lawyer  also added that this episode, along with other documented violations,  will be submitted to UN experts as evidence of the systemic nature of  violations and pressure on citizens in Armenia.