Opinion: It is difficult to say which of the human rights was not violated during July events in Yerevan (video)
The extent of human rights violations during the July events was unprecedented. “Citizens’ right to organize and participate in peaceful assemblies was grossly violated. There was a series of arbitrary actions by the law enforcement agencies which resulted in illegal detention of citizens,” Haykuhi Harutyunyan, President of Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO, said on Friday. Ill-treatment of citizens later continued in police stations. “People did not have access to water, food or toilets and were denied legal assistance," she added. Lawyer Arayik Papikyan says it is difficult to say which of the human rights was not violated during the July events. “There were so many reports about violations that it is much easier to say which right was not violated,” he said. After the seizure of a police station in Yerevan’s Erebuni district by the Sasna Dzrer armed group, lawyers also encountered obstacles created by the law enforcement officials. “I was denied access to a definite investigation department several times. In another case, I had to wait outside an investigation department in the pouring rain for 20 minutes,” Mr. Papikyan said in his speech. “While I was waiting there [in the rain], law enforcement agencies, especially the police made efforts to show us that in fact no reform had been carried out over the years. It was only an illusion. "
