Human Rights Defender's Representatives to Meet with Person Who Insulted MP

Representatives of the Human Rights Defender's Office are preparing to meet with Samvel Vardanyan, who insulted MP Hakob Aslanyan of the Civil Contract party, currently held in a detention facility in Yerevan. This was reported by the Human Rights Defender's Office.

The representatives are currently at the detention facility of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia.

"Reports have circulated in the media and social networks stating that the detained Samvel Vardanyan was subjected to brutal beating by a group of masked individuals while being transported to the detention facility. Under the instruction of Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, the representatives are presently at the detention facility of the Yerevan division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to meet with Samvel Vardanyan," the statement reads.

Recall that on March 15, a video was circulated online in which a young man is heard making obscene remarks towards the MP, followed by a scuffle. It later became clear that this young man is Samvel Vardanyan, against whom a criminal case has been initiated for apparent hooliganism. The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier, lawyer Varazdat Harutyunyan stated that Samvel Vardanyan had been subjected to brutal beating.