The Human Rights Council has started an investigation into the video of Gagik Tsarukyan’s arrest

“During the visit, a private conversation took place with the latter, the relevant documents, health condition, detention conditions and other issues related to the provision of rights were studied. The content of the private conversation is confidential and is not subject to publication,” the Ombudsman’s office said.

Yesterday, minutes after the decision to arrest Gagik Tsarukyan, the Investigative Committee released a video, in which it was seen how about ten employees of the National Security Service used force against him in the businessman’s private house, pulling him by his feet and laying him on the ground.

In the next footage, Gagik Tsarukyan is taken to the Investigative Committee with small handcuffs on his wrists. The HRD stated that it will summarize the results of the study after receiving relevant clarifications and other necessary information regarding the necessity, grounds and other circumstances of the use of physical force and handcuffs from the competent state bodies.

“There are systemic problems in Armenia in terms of the legality of the use of physical force and special measures,” the Human Rights Defender emphasized. – “The legality of using handcuffs or physical force cannot be determined solely by the fact that a person has been arrested, but must be based on specific factual circumstances that may testify, for example, to resistance, escape, self-harm or a real threat to the safety of other persons. If it is considered necessary to handcuff a person, it should not be too strong in any case and should be used only as long as it is absolutely necessary.