If you are summoned for questioning in Armenia, it does not always mean that you are accused. An investigator can call you as a witness, as a victim or as a person the investigation suspects. Your rights and your risks depend on this status, so find it out before the questioning starts. The summons can come from the Investigative Committee, the Anti-Corruption Committee, the National Security Service or the State Revenue Committee. The same rules of questioning apply in each of them.
Witness or accused: why your status matters
- A witness must come and tell the truth about what he knows. A witness also has the right not to testify against himself or his close relatives.
- An accused person has the right to remain silent and to give a statement only after he talks to his lawyer.
- The status can change. A person is sometimes questioned as a witness first and accused later. What he said as a witness stays in the case file.
Questions about your own actions, money, documents or signatures show that the investigation may be looking at you. Then use the right not to testify against yourself and talk to your lawyer before you answer. Ask in advance in what case and in what status you are called. The summons usually says it.
Your right to come with a lawyer
You can come to questioning with a lawyer of your choice, as a witness and as an accused. The lawyer is present for the whole questioning, helps you use your rights and checks that the protocol records your words correctly. You answer the questions yourself, and the lawyer makes sure that your rights are respected. If the time does not suit your lawyer, ask the investigator for another time before the day of the questioning.
Summoned for questioning: how to prepare
- Show the summons to your lawyer, or tell him what the investigator said by phone.
- Tell your lawyer everything you know about the case. What you tell your advocate stays confidential.
- Think about which events, dates and people the questions may cover.
- If there was a search at your home or office, give the search protocol to your lawyer. See police search: your rights.
- Do not discuss the case with other people who are called in the same case.
- Take your passport or ID card.
- Plan enough time. Questioning can take several hours.
During the questioning
- Answer only the question asked. Do not guess. If you do not remember, say so.
- Speak about facts you know yourself. Say when you know something only from other people.
- Read the protocol in full before you sign. If something is wrong or missing, write your remarks in it.
- If the questions turn to your own guilt, use the right not to testify against yourself and talk to your lawyer.
- If you are arrested at the end, use the rights of an arrested person: see arrested in Armenia: what to do.
How advocate Marukyan helps before questioning
Advocate Mnatsakan Marukyan practices criminal defense only. Before and during the questioning he:
- helps you find out in what case and in what status you are called;
- studies your documents and prepares you for the likely questions;
- comes with you to the investigator and stays for the whole questioning;
- checks the protocol with you before you sign it;
- acts at once if the investigator decides to arrest you.
He works in Armenian, Russian and English. The first consultation is free, at the office in Yerevan, Athens street 3/3, or by phone.
Call +374 91 403961, or write on WhatsApp or Telegram. Advocate Marukyan is available 24/7 for arrests and searches.