“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 Pejčinović Burić, the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe has responded my urgent letter on thealarms about beating minors.
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 Pejčinović Burić, 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 Pejčinović Burić 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. Burić 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.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and
Public Affairs, nonpartisan Taguhi Tovmasyan