Investigation ends for ex-police official in March 1 case

PanARMENIAN.Net - The preliminary investigation against Sasha Afyan, former Deputy Chief of Armenia’s Police, has concluded in connection with the March 1, 2008 case. The criminal materials, along with the indictment, have been submitted to court, the Anti-Corruption Committee announced.

Investigators determined that on March 1, 2008, Afyan organized actions by various police units to forcibly disperse peaceful protesters holding a sit-in at Yerevan’s Freedom Square using violence and special means. He also orchestrated efforts to prevent potential gatherings and demonstrations in central Yerevan, resulting in significant harm to public and state interests.

Earlier, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in the case of Farmanyan v. Armenia concerning the nine victims of the March 1 events. The court found that Armenia had violated the right to life in most of the cases. According to the ruling, Armenia must pay €30,000 in non-pecuniary damages and €35,000 in legal costs to each victim's family.