CE Sec Gen responds to Armenian MP`s alarm over police ill-treatment  of minors

ArmInfo.'Effectively combating ill-treatment and impunity is one of the most important duties incumbent on any member state of the Council of Europe': Her Excellency Ms. Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe has responded [to] my urgent letter on the alarms about beating minors, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, RA Parliament, Taguhi Tovmasyan wrote in a Facebook post.    "I received an alarm on February 9 that employees of the Erebuni  Police Department of Yerevan had beaten minors. According to public  information police officers used violence against lawyers Emanuel  ANANYAN and Marzpet AVAGYAN in the investigative body during the  interrogation of one of the minors.

"Part 1 of the Article 2 of the UN Convention against Torture and  Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment envisages:  Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative,  judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any  territory under its jurisdiction. 

"According to Part 1 of the Article 16: Each State Party shall  undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction other  acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which do  not amount to torture as defined in article I, when such acts are  committed by or at the instigation of or with the consent or  acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an  official capacity. (.)

"I had urgently addressed the Secretary General of the Council of  Europe requesting a targeted assessment of the mentioned case which  had created concerns in the public sector.

"I have got a response by Ms. Marija Pejcinovic Buric, the Secretary  General of the Council of Europe, that effectively combating  ill-treatment and impunity is one of the most important duties  incumbent on any member state of the Council of Europe in order to  secure the protection of human rights and uphold the rule of law for  the benefit of its citizens and all other persons under its  jurisdiction.

"Ms. Marija Pejcinovic Buric trusts that the Investigative Committee  will undertake an effective and timely criminal investigation into  these allegations of ill-treatment, and that the newly established  Ministry of Interior will make sure that the safeguards against  ill-treatment in police custody are further strengthened.

"The Council of Europe will continue working with the relevant  authorities, in the framework of the new Council of Europe Action  Plan for Armenia, to enhance the efficiency of investigations of  alleged ill- treatment cases.

"Ms. Buric also welcomes the fact that Armenia joined the "Network of  representatives of police services of the Council of Europe member  states (Police Network)" which will help to ensure that the work of  the Armenian police is in line with Council of Europe standards."