Armenian police boss apologizes for disinformation about Khalafyan's death

General-Lieutenant Alik Sarkisyan, head of the police of Armenia, begged citizens' pardon for his earlier statement that the police had not applied violence to Vaan Khalafyan, who was summoned for interrogation.

"I ask pardon from all the people whom I had misreported by my statement that nobody had tortured Vaan Khalafyan at the police station of the city of Charentsavan. Employees of the police of the Kotaik Region had reported to me that a suicide was committed at the police station. When asked about any application of violence, they answered in the negative. I'll punish those employees, who deceived me and put me into an awkward situation. Everyone who beat and tortured the young man will be punished under the whole severity of the law. I'll defend nobody, all those guilty will be punished. I've never encouraged beatings; there are correct work methods," said Sarkisyan.

On April 13, Vaan Khalafyan, 24, accused of a theft, was brought to the police station of Charentsavan. On that very day he died. His mother told journalists that policemen had tortured her son. Then, Alik Sarkisyan, the police boss of Armenia, said in his comments on the woman's statement: "What beatings and what murder are you talking about? I think senseless to speak about murder here."