Armenian police accused of brutally beating man in Armavir

Serghey Abrahamyan, a resident of Armenia’s Armavir Province claims he was subjected to severe physical abuse while in police custody in late April.

At a press conference on Monday, Abrahamyan recounted that his mouth was taped shut and he was beaten up by officers while detained. The incident began on April 28 when he visited the Armavir Investigative Department as a witness. He said he was turned away upon arrival.

The following day, Abrahamyan said a group of police officers arrived at his home. While he was preparing to accompany them voluntarily, a second group forced their way into his house and assaulted him in front of his wife. The man was then taken into custody, where he was brutally beaten.

On April 29, authorities launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

Attorney Ara Ghazaryan released video footage and photos earlier this week showing visible signs of physical harm. Ghazaryan described the case as another example of police brutality in Armenia.

In response, Narek Sargsyan, spokesperson for the Armenian Interior Ministry, issued a statement defending the actions of the officers involved. He stated that Abrahamyan had displayed inappropriate behavior and failed to comply with lawful police orders.