Policemen claim innocence in torturing Tigran Ulubabyan

The Vanadzor policemen, whom Tigran Ulubabyan, a refugee from Nagorno-Karabakh, has accused of beating and torturing him, have declared their innocence. Roman Yeritsyan, an advocate, has noted that much evidence was hidden or destroyed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that law enforcers had forced Ulubabyan to take responsibility for the robbery reported by his female relative. On March 19, about 200 people came out to protest in front of the building of the Armenian Investigating Committee (IC) in Yerevan, demanding that those involved in the torture be held accountable. On March 21, a rally in support of Ulubabyan was held near the IC building; its participants demanded that the policemen who had tortured Tigran be suspended from work and arrested.

Arpine Sarkisyan, the head of the Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), has stated that "an independent examination found no signs of Ulubabyan’s beating up."

"Ulubabyan was brutally beaten up at the Vanadzor police station, demanding that he confess to a crime he never committed. And only after a wide public outcry and pressure from the media and social networks, the Armenian IC announced the start of criminal proceedings ... Besides, Tigran's hair was pulled out; they spat at him, insulted his deceased parents and perished brother," Roman Yeritsyan, an advocate, has added.