While the society is trying to "get over" the case of Vahan Khalafyan, who died because of the inhuman treatment in the police station in Charentsavan, new details are coming up on the uncontrolled behavior of the police in the city.

Lawyer Artur Sakunts met one of the 3 people arrested as suspects of robbery, Davit Gyulumyan, 36, in Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution. Davit told him, that his testimony was obtained through duress and if he had not written what they wanted, he could have been found dead.

 "I underwent beatings. Either I could die like Vahan, or I had write, there was no other way" told Davit.

"My son showed me the razor hidden under his tongue and said, that he was going to commit a suicide, he didn't want to live any longer", with tears in her eyes told Armik Gharibyan, Davit's mother, after the last meeting with his son.

On the 13th of April, when Vahan Khalifyan's body was taken out of the police station only in an hour, her son Davit was one of the detained. The police officers, whom Armik Gharibyan knows very well, told her, that her son did not have anything to do with the robbery case, but they had held him in the department for 3 days, then detained him and took him to the Nubarashen Penitentiary Institution, where she visited her son on the 30th of April.

Davit Gyulumyan participated during the NKR war in 1992-94, was injured and returned to Armenia, after recovering, voluntarily returned to NKR.  He was awarded with a medal for participating in the military actions.

The 36 years old man's mother and aunt told us, that Davit was persecuted for many years by chief officials of Charentsavan police station, making him cooperate with them and give information on different crimes.

 "They would say - you are a smart guy and can cooperate with us, you know anything about anyone in Charentsavan, you'll give us information, we will pay" Davit's relatives told us. 

He was supposed to walk around during the nights and refer a "case" for the police officers.

I used to follow him during the nights, to make sure he's not in danger, we were walking around, so the police were sure that he was really doing his job" told his mother.

His mother said, that 2 weeks after the robbery case, the Deputy of Police Chief Tonoyan again told her son "bring a case, if you don't do it, I will put drugs into your pocket, will pursue you".

 "A few days before that, Tonoyan, with the Police Chief Hakobyan took my son to the new cemetery, saying if he doesn't bring a case for them, they would inject narcotics into his body" and leave him there. My son had nothing to do with the robbery, that day he was in the morgue, the next day went to a funeral, we have witnesses".

This family that has been harassed by the police for years lives in poverty. Davit's mother lost her young daughter and husband and now lives in this small apartment in Charentsavan with Davit's two children, her daughters' child, who is under their care after her mother's death and her daughter in law.

Davit Gyulumyan's relatives told us about the cruel treatment of their son, especially by the ex-police chief of Charentsavan.

 "Once they came after Davit, he wasn't at home. They told us to find him, threatening. Together with my son we went to the police station. I was sent back home. But I couldn't wait. After an hour I went there again. I was near the police station, when I heard my son's voice. I rushed in. Martirosyan was beating my son, telling him to bring a case."

Another case was told us- a young man in Charentsavan was made to take the responsibility of a robbery case. To avoid beatings the young man tells them - let's go, I'll show you the place, where the incidence has taken place. He takes them to the river Gyumush. When they get there, the guy throws himself into the water to get rid of the officers. The latter rescue him with one condition, that he will blame the case on Davit.

 "So he does. They beat Davit so much, hitting his wounded leg with bricks, hitting his head, opening a 4.5sm wound on it, Davit faints. The police officer wants to step on his head, but then changes his mind"

Davit's mother tells us, that Davit used to leave the house for 4-5 days, to get rid of the police. He used to gather dirty bottles so they could get money from it and buy something to eat for the kids.

Yesterday Special Investigatory Service told the "Liberty" radio station that the according to 15 April forensic report Gyulumyan didn't have any objective features of body-injury, and Gyulumyan himself said that "he didn't undergo beatings".

Zhanna Aleksanyan

P.S. "I never encouraged beating; there are better working methods" said the Police Chief Alik Sargsyan during the last week's interview for the "Iravunq" newspaper, but he did not define his "methods". Though there was a need. It could be helpful, especially if a training course is organized for the police officers.