France, Strasburg, 25 June / corr. Trend A.Maherramli, I.Alizade / Terry Davis, the Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General, is concerned on the investigation by law enforcement bodies into conflicts, broken out after the presidential elections in Armenia between opposition supporters, dissatisfied with the results of the elections, and police. "I am seriously concerned on the investigation, held by the police, which is connected to the death of eight men during March incidents in Armenia," Davis stated at a conference held in Strasburg on 25 June.
The presidential elections were held in Armenia on 19 February. The Central Election Commission (CEC) announced the victory of Serzh Sarkisyan, the Premier nominated as a candidate from the authorities, with 52.25% of votes. Disagreeing with these results, supporters of ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the main candidate from the opposition, began holding continuous actions. Peaceable demonstrations were broken up violently in the early hours of 2 March. About 10 people were killed and hundreds were injured and arrested.
The Secretary General said that he treated suspiciously the investigation concerning the incidents, happened in Armenia. He explained his opinion with the simultaneous conduct of a lot of investigations into the incident.
"I regularly get information on the police investigation from my friends in Armenia. Some people say that the investigation commission will be organized in connection with this incident. However, neither investigation nor parliamentary commission can free the police from holding investigation," the Secretary General said.
He stated that first, the police should find and arrest the people, who are involved in death of 10 men: "These people must be punished for committing a crime. When the Armenian Government speaks about arrested, charged or discharged people during the March incidents, I ask about dead persons during this incident. I am also seriously concerned on the facts of robbery and vandalism. However, dead persons are the priority issue. Nothing should release the police from holding investigations in the democratic society.
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