Based on the materials prepared by the RA SIS on March 11, 2019, on the grounds of points 1, 2 and 4 of part 2 of Article 309.1 of the RA Criminal Code, a criminal case was initiated on the fact of possible torture of a citizen by police officers.

 

By the totality of sufficient evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation, conducted under proper prosecutorial supervision, it was substantiated that on March 2, 2019, at about 18:00, senior detective of Shengavit Division of Criminal Investigation of Yerevan City Department of the RA Police B.A. and the detective of the same division A.Kh., being in civilian clothes, on the square in front of Shengavit station of Yerevan Metro, at the intersection of S. Taronts and A. Hovsepyan streets, saw young people arguing with each other, approached, caught two of them- brothers Kh. and N. Arakelyans, and without introducing themselves as police officers, tugged at them, demanding to leave.

 

As a result of the actions of the police officers, the brothers, thinking that they were friends of the guys arguing with them, began to pull them back, after which, using force, they put the guys in the car. Upon being taken to Shengavit police station, the above-mentioned police officers punched one of the brothers in the face and punished him for swearing in the car in response, deliberately inflicting severe physical pain and moderate bodily injuries.

 

Criminal case with an indictment approved by the decision of the prosecutor, on July 4, 2019 was sent to the Court of First Instance of Yerevan city for consideration on the merits.

 

Recognizing as proven the evidence presented by the prosecutor, considered during the trial, on December 28, 2021, the court delivered a guilty verdict, by which two police officers were found guilty of using torture as part of a group for committing criminal acts under point 4 of part 2 of article 309.1 of the RA Criminal Code, and sentenced to 7 years in prison and deprived of the right to hold positions in state bodies, local self-government bodies for a period of 3 years.

 

This is, in fact, the first verdict rendered under Article 309.1 of the RA Criminal Code.

 

Notice: Every person suspected in or charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent unless proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code and unless the verdict comes into legal force.