Armenian human rights advocates apply to CE and UN over K. Petrosyan issue

In connection with the death of 31-year-old resident of Armenia’s Tavush province Karen Petrosyan in Azerbaijan, watchdog organizations of Armenia have applied to the Council of Europe’s European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the UN Committee against Torture (CAT), and the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT), the press service of Helsinki Committee of Armenia reported.

According to the source, the heads of watchdog organizations in the person of Avetik Ishkhanyan, Larisa Alaverdyan and Arthur Sakunts who sent applications to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, CAT and SPT pointed out the fact that Azerbaijani military subjected Karen Petrosyan to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment and ask the abovementioned international organizations to do everything possible for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the young man’s death.

The application contains the necessary substantiation for actions of these organizations as well as the European Court of Human Rights and calls on them to show consistency to ensure an impartial and comprehensive investigation of the case.

As reported earlier, on September 10, 2014 the working group representing the interests of the family of Tavush province resident Karen Petrosyan, 31, killed in Azerbaijan, asked the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to assist with the immediate repatriation of the Armenian citizen’s body to Armenia – in accordance with Rule 39 of ECHR’s General Rules.