Law Chamber of Armenia creates a rapid response team to unlawful actions of the police

Upon the decision of Law Chamber of Armenia, a rapid response team will be formed in the nearest future. It will deal with unlawful actions of law enforcement bodies against the lawyers and protect their rights.

Earlier, the “Caucasian Knot” reported that in the evening of August, 9, seven young activists of oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) were detained in the center of Yerevan. The reason for detention was their confrontation with law enforcement bodies. Lawyers Ovsepyan and Voskanyan who acted as the oppositionists’ attorneys declared that the officers in the police station put obstacles in their work.

“The actions of law enforcement officers were connected with interference in carrying out the attorneys’ professional duties, the use of violence and deprivation of the two attorneys of freedom of movement”, a statement of Law Chamber of Armenia runs.

A decision to create a rapid response team was also taken. It is planned to include representatives of non-governmental organizations and mass media into the above mentioned team if necessary.

“Law Chamber decided to appeal to Prosecutor General of Armenia Agvan Ovsepyan and Head of Special Investigative Service (SIS) Andranik Mirzoyan asking them to initiate a criminal case on the fact of interference in carrying out the Vage Ovsepyan and Stephan Voskanyan’s professional duties, the use of violence against them and depriving them of freedom of movement”, the lawyers’ statement runs.

Commenting on Ovsepyan and Voskanyan’s statements Head of Armenian Police Alik Sarkisyan declared that the information that the lawyers were not allowed to enter the police office and meet their clients was untrue.