Former Armenian Police Official Hovhannes Tamamyan Arrested Over 2008 Post-Election Violence

YEREVAN — According to factual evidence obtained in a criminal proceeding conducted by the Department for the Investigation of Torture and Abuse of Authority by Officials—within the Main Department for Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee of Armenia—it has been established that H.T. (Hovhannes Tamamyan), First Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Armenian Police at the time, ordered police officers without any justification to assault E.A., a participant in the March 1, 2008 rally held at Freedom Square in Yerevan.

In the early morning hours of March 1, 2008, Tamamyan allegedly instructed police officers to beat the rally participant and have him transported to the Police Main Department for Combating Organized Crime.

“Immediately thereafter, police officers carried out actions that were clearly beyond the scope of their official authority and did not stem from their duties.

“In particular, they used violence against E.A., striking him multiple times with their hands and feet on various parts of his body, causing severe injuries that posed a life-threatening danger to his health.

“Based on the factual evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against H.T., First Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Armenian Police, under Part 3 of Article 38-309 of the Criminal Code adopted on April 18, 2003 (incitement to exceed official authority).

“On February 25, 2026, H.T. was arrested in order to be brought before the court. The preliminary investigation is ongoing,” the Investigative Committee said in its statement.