Forensic expertise of the body of 24-year-old Vahan Khalafyan, who was detained at the Charentsavan police and later died there of fatal wounds inflicted by a knife, showed that violence was used against him. Legal proceedings have been instituted under the Article 110, part 1 of Criminal Code - "leading to suicide". It is worth mentioning that according to official announcement Vahan Khalafyan stabbed himself.

However, information provided by Arthur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office, reveals new and suspicious circumstances.

The human rights activist visited Vahan Khalafyan's relatives in Charentsavan on April 14, the next day after the incident. He also met two of the young men that were detained the same day on suspicion of theft as well as the brother and friends of the killed.

"Together with Vahan's friends we went to the house of one of the arrested guys. At first we were told that he was not at home but when they heard the voice of one of his friends they invited us in. Everybody was scared. Norayr was at home, he was in bed; he could hardly move and speak. He was under stress. He said with difficulty that they were taken to the police at 7:30. He didn't even remember when he came home. His parents said that they had been called from the police at 2:30 a.m. and told: "Come and take your son," Sakunts said adding that the young man would speak then stop then suddenly continue and speak to himself.

"The young man hardly made us understand that he was in a different room but heard how the others were beaten in neighbouring rooms, and at about 4:00, when deputy head Tonoyan came, a commotion started. He told that the policemen were swearing at each other, shouting and then suddenly the voices stopped. Then he learned that they want to take Vahan to the hospital. Downstairs Vahan's brother was talking to Tonoyan who told him: "He hit (stabbed) himself." The man thought that his brother had hit one of the policemen with his hand. He asked: "Who did he hit?" Tonoyan answered: "He hit (stabbed) himself." Vahan's brother was stunned and told him that he saw his brother at 15:00 to 16:00 and gave him some food. He went to the hospital and learned there that Vahan was already dead.

When Vahan's brother - Vardan, brought food for Vahan who was detained at the police department, Vahan invited the policemen to eat together. "Can you imagine a man thinking about suicide to invite the policemen to eat together? Before Tonoyan came everything was normal. This is a very important moment. Besides, how could Vahan know about the location of the kitchen knife?" the human rights activist asks.          

Sakunts mentioned that speaking about Tonoyan residents said that he was the local police lord, local "zone keeper".

Sakunts said that when they were leaving Norayr's house he said with emotion: "Don't bury Vahan without me."

On that day 5 young men were arrested by the police on suspicion of theft. Arthur Sakunts spoke to another one of them who wanted to stay anonymous. He was taken to the police; there they found out that he was in the village when the crime was committed. Nevertheless policemen kept him in the department till 9:00 p.m. "Why did they keep him? He said he was also beaten up."

According to the human rights activist the RA Head of Police statement on the case is a disinformation, to put it mild.   

"The head of police has to be at least professional enough to first get information then make such statements. He made an announcement without forensic expertise, without an autopsy. The young men I talked to said that there were two marks of knife on Vahan's body. The next day at the press conference the Head of Police spoke about one knife mark. This means misprision of crime by spreading disinformation. He has to be fired for such behaviour," Arthur Sakunts is confident.  

Zhanna Alexanyan

P.S. We tried to get information from the Police Information Service about new details presented by the human rights activist Arthur Sakunts concerning the violence against the detained and suspicious circumstances of Vahan Khalafyan's death at the Charentsavan Police Department. However we were answered that none of account executives of was available. Police is indeed busy today; it is pompously celebrating its professional holiday.