Relatives of Vahan Khalafyan, 24, who died on April 14 at Charentsavan Police Department under unclarified circumstances (RA Police Head Alik Sargsyan claimed Khalafyan committed suicide) are convinced he was murdered. Relatives say that Vahan was subjected to inhuman torture and killed at the police department.

Vahan's mother, Anahit, who mourned her son's death, told us that there was a cross shaped cutting on his son's body, all his body - his face and legs, were in bruises, and there were two holes in his belly.  

"They cut a cross with a knife on his chest and stabbed him twice in the belly. Probably they wanted to scare him. Why would my son stab himself twice? Was he a terrorist? They wouldn't let one stand to his feet to say nothing of going to the drawer to take out a knife and stab himself.

And they want the Turks to recognize genocide. Two-three Armenians were standing there and didn't render first aid to my Vahan; he almost bled to death and only then was taken to the hospital. Do you have a right to be called humans, you monsters? My son loved life," the mother was mourning her son's death.

Vahan Khalafyan's mother, Anahit, was especially incensed by the statement made last week by RA Police Head Alik Sargsyan that the arrested killed himself. The mother asked the Police Head how Vahan could cut a cross on his own chest and then stab himself twice:

"He could at least say that the police was investigating the case, or that did not know. How could he say such a thing? Without a [forensic] expertise the Police Head announces that suicide is committed. How do you know that? With such a Police Head we should have such a country."

The police head substantiated the suicide version with V. Khalafyan's "pathological propensities", referring to the decision by the Defense Ministry Central Military Medical Commission that disqualified Khalafyan for military service.

"What are all these talks about? I have exempted my son from military service. So many people came for my son. Would so many people come for a man out of his mind? Such people are despised. You are out of your mind that brutally beat my son and rendered no aid to him. All police is out of mind," the excited mother said.

"Let my son be a thief, let them detain him but not kill and give back his corpse. There is law for everything. What has my boy done? They detained him to earn money. My boy was an ordinary boy, helping the weak, respectful..."

Vahan's mother learned that her son was taken to the police only after coming back from work. Vahan Khalafyan was taken to the police department on suspicion of theft without any notice or any document.

"They took him at 10:30 a.m., I didn't know about it. Without any notice or paper... In the police report they wrote that they took him at 16:30. And the Police Head lied at the press conference. Why do you write lies, why do you lie? For me? Is the law supposed to protect the man or kill him?" the mother asked. 

"They kept my son from 10:30 till 16:30. His legs, his face were in bruises, they beat so much my poor kid. They tortured my son to death. You have no right to be called humans. What has a 24-year-old guy done to you? Even dogs understand and help a man. And these humanlike monsters left my son to bleed to death." 

Relatives of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan who died at the Charentsavan Police Department tell that they visited Vahan twice on that day. Last time it was around 16:00. They brought food for him.

The relatives say that when in about an hour they returned to the police department the Charentsavan Police deputy Head Tonoyan told them that Vahan had stabbed himself.

A criminal case is launched for causing suicide. The case is now moved to the Special Investigation Service. Forensic expertise of the corpse is carried out. Several versions are suggested including version of Vahan Khalafyan's murder by Charentsavan policemen.

Vahan's relatives are determined to reveal the truth and bring the guilty to account. It is worth mentioning that no representative of police was present at Vahan Khalafyan's funeral.

Zhanna Alexanyan