A few days ago, the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia appealed to international partners, drawing their attention to the case of a lawyer being abused by police officers in Armenia once again.

The Chamber of Advocates reported.

In response, the Council of Bars and Bar Associations of Europe  (CCBE), referring to the two cases that took place during 2023, strongly condemned violence against lawyers and appealed to RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

It is specifically mentioned in the letter:

“Your Excellency,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents the bars and law societies of 46 countries, and through them more than 1 million European lawyers. The CCBE places great emphasis on respect for human rights and the rule of law and is particularly concerned with the situation of human rights defenders around the world.

The CCBE would like to express its serious concerns over recent acts of violence against lawyers in Armenia.

According to information we have received, on 7 June 2023, a group of police officers beated, searched and detained lawyer Karen Alaverdyan in connection with the performance of his legitimate activities as lawyer at the Police Central Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia (RA).

In particular, it is reported that lawyer Karen Alaverdyan, who appeared at the Police Central Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs of RA to provide legal assistance to his client and who tried to prevent his client from being tortured by police officers, was pushed to the ground, handcuffed, beaten and was assaulted with a substance similar to tear gas on his face. We understand that when advocate Karen Alaverdyan entered the police department, the police officers, at first, prevented him from meeting his client. Eventually, when the lawyer finally entered the room he saw several police officers were beating his client. And we understand that it was after he tried to intervene in defense of his client that the lawyer was assaulted.

Hence, although it is reported that the Armenian police launched an internal inquiry into the incident, Karen Alaverdian was charged with “hooliganism” and obstruction of legitimate police actions.

We also understand that this is not an isolated event. Indeed, it is reported that a similar incident of violence towards lawyers Marzpet Avagyan and Emanuel Ananyan by police officers also took place at another Yerevan police station in February.

In this context, the CCBE wishes to draw your attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (attached), Principles 16, 17 and 18 on Guarantees for the functioning of lawyers and principle 23 on Freedom of expression and association.

In view of the above, the CCBE strongly condemns these acts of violence against the above-mentioned lawyers, and the CCBE respectfully urges Your Excellency to do everything in your power to ensure that a full and impartial investigation into these acts of violence is carried out, with a view to bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards. In addition, the CCBE wishes to recall that all lawyers should be able to carry out their professional duties without fear of reprisal, hindrance, intimidation or harassment in order to preserve the independence and integrity of the administration of justice and the rule of law.

Panagiotis Perakis

President”