Representatives of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, under the Ombudsman’s instruction, paid an unannounced visit to Armavir and Vardashen Penitentiary Institutions and had personal talks with 10 persons detained in the criminal case instituted in relation to the events that took place in Ijevan.

During the talks, the detainees raised issues related to the criminal proceedings and the charges filed against them and claimed that the criminal case contains no evidence attesting to the crime ascribed to them.

As it was mentioned in a previous statement, proceedings have already been instituted in relation to the bad treatment that police officers showed while apprehending and arresting people.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender is also in touch with the detainees’ attorneys. The detainees didn’t complain about the conditions at both penitentiary institutions.

The recorded issues were recapped, and additional letters were addressed to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Police and the Ministry of Justice.