Article 3 of the ECHR enshrines one of the most fundamental values of democratic societies. The prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is a value of civilisation closely bound up with respect for human dignity. The prohibition in question is absolute, no derogation from it being permissible. The problem of effective investigation of alleged ill-treatment and deprivation of life cases is present in several ECtHR judgments against Armenia.
Therefore, the CoE tackles this issue through targeted capacity building for investigators of Armenia as well as through the improvement of the legal framework and practice. More specifically, on 23 and 30 April the CoE in coordination with the Justice Academy organised training seminars for 42 investigators on effective investigation of ill-treatment cases in the light of the national legislation and practice, as well as ECtHR case-law. It aimed at discussing the issues deriving from Virabyan v. Armenia group of cases that concerns ill-treatment, torture in police custody and lack of effective investigations in this respect (substantial and procedural violations of Article 3 of the ECHR). This activity will strengthen the capacity of the investigators to carry out effective investigations of alleged ill-treatment cases and will contribute to the general measure under the Virabyan v. Armenia group of cases.
The event was organised by the Project “Support to the effective execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in Armenia”, funded by Human Rights Trust Fund and implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia for 2023-2026.