Alik Sargsyan: people get police they deserve

PanARMENIAN.Net - RA Police chief, lieutenant general Alik Sargsyan, calls not to meddle police with political matters.

Commenting on the incident with ANC activists during a press conference in Yerevan, he said: “I think Tigran Arakelyan’s case is purely jural and has nothing to do with politics.”

“Police will not be scared and will not avoid dealing with people like Arakelyan. I will not let it happen,” Sargsyan noted.

According to him, the public attempts to attribute European model to the Armenian police, but “they should first shape themselves to fit this model.” “People get police they deserve, as police can never be isolated from society,” he stated.

As to videos regarding the activists’ arrest on August 9, Sargsyan said all the video materials concerning the incident are available to public.

According to the Armenian National Congress (ANC), on August 9 police officers used violence against ANC activists Tigran Arakelyan and Artak Karapetyan. Upon arrival to the site, activists Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, Vahagn Gevorgyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kirimajyan tried to settle the dispute but were beaten as well, the ANC said. All above-mentioned were taken to a police station.

Currently, Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody. The others were released.

On August 26, the Congress announced that it suspends the dialogue and believes Arakelyan to be a political prisoner.