Armenian ombudsman asks lawmakers for support in combating police brutality

YEREVAN, October 2. /ARKA/. Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan, speaking Thursday in the National Assembly, asked lawmakers for support in solution of problems related to activities of the police and prosecutor general’s office.

Presenting his 2013 report, he said that certain progress was seen in the police’s work, but there are still many faults, such as violence in some units. 

The ombudsman has proposed to install surveillance cameras in certain units of the police department, but, as he said, the problem has been solved partially, since these cameras don’t show what is going on directly in rooms. 

“The police’s brutality lessened in 2013 and the first half of 2014 – some 365 cases were recorded there, but only 12 were scrutinized,” he said adding that punishment of wrongdoers may prevent other brutal incidents. In his opinion, lawmakers’ interference may put things right. 

As for the prosecutor general’s office, very often it insists on pretrial detention of offenders, but things may change if legislators demand other restrictive measures. This will protect citizens’ rights and lessen jails’ overcrowding.

“It would be very well if these issues were raised by both pro-governmental and opposition MPs, since these issues are not politically charged and should alarm all political forces,” Andreasyan said. ---0----