In Armenia, court sanctions arrest of former policeman Tadevosyan

The court of general jurisdiction of the capital community Kentron-Nork-Marash, under presidency of Judge Gagik Khandanyan, has satisfied the police's petition to arrest former policeman Ashot Tadevosyan, detained on April 10 in the Northern Avenue. He is accused under Articles 136 and 316.1 of the Criminal Codes: "Insult of a policeman" and "Rendering resistance to power representative".

"Arrest of Ashot Tadevosyan is nothing else but political execution of the person who did not want to work in the police and loudly stated it. To say nothing about the fact that policemen are again interfering with citizens' free travel in their own city," human rights activist Mikael Danielyan said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, while making comments on the arrest of the former policeman.

Levon Zurabyan, head of the central office of the Armenian National Congress, said to journalists on Tadevosyan's arrest: "Ashot Tadevosyan was subjected to policemen's violence in my eyes in the Northern Avenue. He was brought to the police station and charged with disrespect of a policeman and resistance to power representatives. Thus, one year of Serzh Sargsyan's rule is marked by increase in the number of political prisoners by one person, making the total of 56 political prisoners."

Let us note here that during several recent days patrol-sentry units block all the entrances to the Northern Avenue, where "political walks" are traditionally held. Without any explanations policemen disperse the people who rally there, some of them are forced to police stations. Several hours later, after interference of employees of Ombudsman's office and deputies from "Heritage" faction, the detainees are released.