Sasha Davtyan

Police officers who tortured Sasha Davtyan and his daughters were not held responsible so far.

General description of the case  

In September 2008 a criminal case was opened into the fact of rape of under-age girl, resident of the Katnaghbyur village in Aragatsotn region. On February 6, 2009 the case was suspended due to the lack of identification of the perpetrator of the crime. In May 2009 the case was re-opened under the new investigator. Sasha Davtyan, father of the girl was charged for rape of his own daughter Sh. D. and for torturing of his two daughters Sh.D and T.D. according to the Articles 138.2 (3), 119(2) and 119.2 (3) of the RA Criminal Code which foresee 4-10 and 3-7 years of imprisonment respectively.

In August 2009 Sh.D and T.D refuted their testimonies and filed a complaint to the RA Prosecutor's General Office. Sh. D who had turned 18 in April 2009 during one of the trial sessions informed how these testimonies were taken from her. She said that she and her sister were taken to the Kentron Police Station on May 7, 2009 and they were subjected to torture, inhumane and degrading treatment during 4 days and were forced to confess that Sasha Davtyan indeed tortured and raped Sh. D. Testimonies received under the physical pressure served as a ground for accusation.

As for Sasha Davtyan, he was repeatedly beaten and was also subjected to torture.

On 5 February, 2010 President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) Mrs. Souhayr Belhassen together with Mr. Arman Danielyan, Civil Society Institute (CSI) President visited him in prison and documented his testimony on the ill treatment he was subjected to and certified that he had lost 8 teeth as a result of being beaten. They also met with the head of "Nubarashen" prison and the prison's doctor who presented the documents, certifying Mr Davtyan's very bad state upon his arrival in prison. 

On December 17, 2009 the Court of First Instance of Aragatsotn region acquitted Sasha Davtyan regarding the rape of his daughter. However, despite the obvious physical pressure he and his daughters faced during the custody, the Court found him guilty for committing the crime of ill-treatment against his daughters and was convicted for 4 years of imprisonment based on Article 119.2 (1). 

On January 14, 2010 Sasha Davtyan appealed the decision of the Court of First Instance at the Court of Appeal. On February 26 the Court of Appeal launched and finished examination of Sasha Davtyan's appeal where he requested to overturn partially the decision of the Court of First Instance (Article 119 of Criminal Code of Armenia, torture) and mitigate the punishment. The Court of Appeal revised decision of the Court of First Instance and replaced 4 years of imprisonment with 3 years and released him from the court room based on the Decree of the National Assembly on the amnesty.

On March 16, 2010 RA Prosecutor's General Office lodged a complaint with the RA Court of Cassation against the decision of the RA Court of Appeal. The complaint was returned.

On March 9, 2010 FIDH and CSI issued a statement where they welcomed the release of Sasha Davtyan and called for an immediate investigation of the alleged use of torture against him.

Police officers who tortured Sasha Davtyan and his daughters were not held responsible so far. 

 

  • Sasha Davtyan

     30.04.2011
    Police officers who tortured Sasha Davtyan and his daughters were not held responsible so far.

  • Protest to Court of Cassation on Sasha Davtyan’s Case

     27.04.2010
    Prosecutor General's Office lodged a protest to the Criminal Court of Cassation demanding to annul the RA Court of Appeal decision of February 26, 2010 on Sasha Davtyan's case and confirm the decision of the Aragatsotn province first instance court of general jurisdiction which sentenced Sasha Davtyan to 4 years of imprisonment.

  • FIDH and CSI welcome the release of Sacha Davtyan on February 26, 2010 and call for an immediate investigation of the alleged use of torture against him

     10.03.2010
    Paris, Yerevan, March 9, 2010 - FIDH and CSI welcome the release of M. Sacha Davtyan and call for an immediate investigation of the alleged use of torture against him. On February 26, 2010, the Court of Appeal shortened his sentence from 4 years of imprisonment to 3 years. Moreover, the Amnesty Act decreed by the Armenian National Assembly on June 19, 2009 was applied to M. Sasha Davtyan and he was immediately released.

  • Sasha Davtyan Released

     26.02.2010
    On February 26 the Criminal Court of Appeals started and ended the investigation of the appeal of the Aragatsotn region Katnaghbyur village resident Sasha Davtyan who requested to partially overturn the decision of the Court of First Instance (Article 119 of Criminal Code of Armenia, torture) and mitigate the punishment. The Court of Appeals satisfied the appeal and Sasha Davtyan was released from the courtroom.

  • “Effective Justice”

     25.02.2010
    Sasha Davtyan, 48, was tortured at the Kentron Police Department for 4 days. Nine months have passed but he remembers one by one all the policemen that tortured and humiliated him. Some 10 policemen took part in beating feeble and frail Sasha Davtyan.

  • Acquitted of dishonorable accusation

     17.12.2009
    The thing that happened today in the court of first instance of Aragatsotn marz is a sensation for the juridical system of Armenia. Judge Ruzanna Barseghyan made a decision of acquittal about one of the accusations brought towards Sasha Davtyan for raping his under-aged daughter.

  • The Prosecutor against the victim

     16.12.2009
    In the court of first instance of Aragatsotn region the closed trial of the criminal case on under-aged girl rape and torture was finished. Yesterday both the prosecution and the defendant made speeches. The prosecution found that father is guilty for the rape and the torture of his under-aged daughter and requested from the court for 7 year imprisonment.

  • 18 year old girl was tortured in Kentron police station

     23.10.2009
    A trial about a sexual harassment towards a minor girl continues in the court of first instance of Aragatsotni marz where the victim and the defendant are from the same family. The father is convicted for raping the minor girl of 17 year old, and for torturing his 22 year old daughter. Their attorneys, father and victim-girls claim that the case was made up through violence and torture.

  • Policeman in the Main Role

     08.09.2009
    On September 1 an investigation of a criminal case was started where 18 year old victim Sh.D. was going to give testimony about illegal actions of the police, as well as torture and inhuman treatment towards her by the police.

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