ECtHR treats investigation into death of Armenian citizen in police as ineffective

On September 20, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) obliged the Armenian authorities to pay compensation of 52,000 euros to family members of Levon Gulyan, who died in the course of interrogation at a police station.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2007, Levon Gulyan, an owner of the restaurant, witnessed a shootout and was invited to the police as a witness. According to the police, he fell out of a window from the first floor. Relatives of Levon Gulyan believe he was beaten and thrown out of the window. A case on bringing to suicide was instituted, but no one was brought to justice.

The ECtHR recognized that during the investigation, Article 2 (the right to life) of the European Convention on Human Rights was violated.

The complaint filed by Ashot Gulyan concerned not only the death of his son at the police station, but also cruel treatment of him. The complaint also referred to the investigating authorities' inability to effectively investigate the case.

In December 2007, the investigation into the Levon Gulyan's death was transferred to the Special Investigating Service. After that, the investigation was repeatedly closed, reports the ECtHR's verdict as quoted by the "Sputnik-Armenia".