[JURIST] Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] on Friday denounced [press release] the detention and abuse of peaceful protesters in Armenia. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the Armenian government, protesters have recently held frequent demonstration in the capital city of Yerevan. HRW reports that, despite the occurrence of occasional violence, such protests have been peaceful yet have been met with a disproportionately aggressive response from Yerevan’s police force. While Armenian law does criminalize organized mass disorder, HRW states that such protests have not met such a classification since there has been no violence or destruction of property. Nevertheless, peaceful demonstrators have reportedly been beaten, forcibly detained, and given excessive criminal charges. Detainees were also allegedly denied human rights such as prompt access to medical care or legal representation. Furthermore, the number of detained and charged protestors has not been properly documented or publicized. Armenia’s Special Investigative Service [official website] has begun investigations into the reports of police brutality. HRW has urged Armenia to hold authorities accountable for violating the human rights of peaceful protestors and their leaders.

HRW’s recent report follows a two-week standoff [Al Jazeera report] between Armenian authorities and armed men barricaded in a police station. On July 17, a group of 31 radicals infiltrated the station demanding the release of their group leader. The radicals reportedly killed one policeman and took a total of eight hostages. The hostage situation attracted supportive protestors who made nightly demonstrations until the radicals finally surrendered to authorities last Sunday.