Cup of Water = Death Wish

Mr. Levon Gulyan managed a restaurant (Pandok) in the 3rd District of Armenia, on the evening of May 9th, across the street from his restaurant several male individuals initiated a fight. Mr. Guylan went outside and told the individuals to move away from the restaurant, because they were bothering the customers. At that point, shooting broke out and an individual by the name of Stephan Vardanyan was shot and killed.

That same evening, around 3:00, Shengavit police took Mr. Gulyan, as well as two other employees from the restaurant, Hayk Melgumyan and Marine Grigoryan, into custody as witnesses to the murder.

After being detained at the police station for almost 24 hours, Mr. Gulyan was allowed to go home on the evening of May 10th, at 22:30 but was asked to come back to the station on May 11th, at 10:00. Upon returning to the police station on May 11th, Mr. Gulyan was held for another 25 hour period. On May 12th at 11:00, Mr. Gulyan was given a few hours to go home, to take a shower and to partake in the Parliament election that was being held that day, however, he was told to once again return to the police station at 13:00 that same day.

Mr. Gulyan came home, groomed himself and once again returned to the police station at 13:00 as was said. After returning to the police department of his own free will, witnesses state that a car from the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent by Hovhannes Tamamyan, Deputy Chief of Criminal Investigation General Department, came to the police station and picked up Mr. Gulyan and took him to the Ministry for a "conversation". The "conversation", which was the last for Levon, passed without witnesses, According to the information from the Department of Public Relations of RA Police, L. Gulyan was invited to the General Department of Criminal Investigation to give some clarifications on the case of S. Vardanyan's murder. Wishing to escape, he asked for some water and jumped out of the window. This version, in the opinion of Levon's advocates and relatives is absolutely lacking logics - he came to the police station of his own free will. If he really threw himself out, he was made to do it by beatings and pressure. Besides, to escape from the police yard, blocked from all sides (Levon "jumped" from the window to the yard), is completely unreal. Around 17:00 on May 12th, Gulyan's family found out that Levon Gulyan had died.

"Pandok"'s barman Hayk Melqumyan has stated, he was also called to the police station without any notice and was illegally kept there for about 2 days. He stated, that he, as well as Levon, were savagely beaten and forced to give evidence. The policemen were sure that the employees and guests of the restaurant must have seen what happened in the street. Hayk was not given water and was informed, that "very important" people are interested in the case. Often the name "Tamam" was sounded, and a warning that 'god forbid' they end up in his hands. In the relatives' opinion, that very "Tamam" (Hovhannes Tamamyan) - a superior of high standing in the system of Republic Criminal Investigation - is responsible for Levon's death.

Another witness, waitress Marine Grigoryan was called to the police station. In her case, fortunately, there was no physical, but only moral pressure. In Marine's words, on May 12th, she was taken to the Republic Criminal Investigation Department to meet Mr. Tamamyan. But the meeting didn't take place for unknown reasons. She stayed for a while in the corridor, noted a strange bustle, then she was allowed to go. About the same time Hayk was also set free. As Levon's relatives suppose, all this happened soon after the young man's death who had been invited to the Ministry.

By the way, the relatives learnt about the case only in 2-3 hours after it had happened, and only when they themselves came to get some information about Gulyan.

Facts:
1) Levon Gulyan was a witness to a fight which ended in one person being killed.
2) Levon Gulyan was illegally taken by the Shengavit police as a witness; no proper documentation was given to Mr. Gulyan.
3) Levon Gulyan was taken to the 6th Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs without the proper documentation authorizing a witness to be transported to another district.
4) Bruises were found on Mr. Levon Gulyan's body on the several occasions that he was allowed to return home.
5) Levon Gulyan's body was found in a heavily fenced in back yard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs building. Thus discrediting the notion that Mr. Gulyan was trying to escape.
6) Hayk Melkumyan was beaten heavily when taken into custody by the police.
7) A preliminary medical examination was conducted on Levon Gulyan's body without the authorization of Mr. Gulyan's family.