Daniel Ioannisyan: 'The Use of Force by Police Officers Without Basis is Condemnable'

IKM program coordinator Daniel Ioannisyan writes: 'The frequent cases of police officers applying physical force and detaining individuals without basis are highly condemnable. 

The police officer is not a punisher and, regardless of the nature of a citizen's actions, cannot exert force against a non-resistant citizen. In the case of a resisting citizen, force may only be applied within the limits of proportionality. 

It is also unacceptable to detain peaceful gatherings on sidewalks or simply detain passing citizens (or carry out administrative arrests). For a detention or administrative arrest to be legitimate, it is necessary that the citizen in question is either caught committing a crime or an administrative violation. One such basis is the failure to comply with a police officer's lawful request, but there must also be a clearly expressed lawful demand.'