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MURDER HIGHLIGHTS YET AGAIN 'ENVIRONMENT OF IMPUNITY' IN SYUNIK PROVINCE
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/06/17/murder-highlights-yet-again-environment-of-impunity-in-syunik-province/
June 17, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.)-"At the moment, my mind is blank. I have only one
thought-that everything must be done to prove my son Tigran's
innocence," Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan told a journalist on
June 13.
Suren Khachatryan Tigran, 19, is reportedly being held at the
Nubarashen penitentiary.
He and his father's bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan, were arrested
following the murder of former mayoral candidate Avetik Budaghyan,
43, on June 1. They have been charged with murder (under Article 104
section 2 of Armenia's criminal code) and the illegal possession of
weapons (Article 235 section 1).
Governor Khachatryan, whose name has been linked with violent
incidents in the southern province, applied to leave his post until
the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, although the law
does not allow that. The government accepted his resignation on June 6.
The shooting also left Artak Budaghyan, the brother of the deceased
and a commander of a Karabagh army battalion, seriously injured. He
was shot three times according to his doctors. Nikolay Abrahamyan,
a relative of Governor Khachatryan and one of his bodyguards, also
suffered injuries.
"[Budaghyan] was armed and he attacked. [My son] defended himself,"
the governor told a reporter.
During the night of the incident, the Budaghyan brothers were
reportedly at a lakeside party attended by dignitaries including
Karabagh President Bako Sahakyan; Governor Khachatryan and his
entourage were also there. An argument between Khachatryan and Avetik
Budaghyan that night has been cited as the reason behind the shooting.
Governor office interprets events
On June 5, the governor's office published a version of the events to,
as it claims, set the record straight and counter "doubtful" accounts
of what happened-accounts that aim to "distort reality," "mislead
the public," and build tensions in Syunik and, specifically, Goris.
According to officials at the governor's office who reviewed the
security tape from June 1, his two sons came home at 10 p.m. in
separate cars; the governor himself returned at 10:16 p.m., and does
not appear in the tape thereafter. At 10:36 p.m., Avetik Budaghyan
drove up to the house. The two sons, their driver, and two bodyguards
approached him. They talked for 2-3 minutes; tensions ran high. The
governor's wife, Loretta Barseghyan, walked over, and soon Budaghyan
drove away. At 11:06 p.m., Budaghyan returned to the house. The same
five men and Loretta approached him again. A few minutes later, a
second car approached. Commander Artak Budaghyan got out of the car
and according to the governor's office-opened fire on the group. The
group dispersed, while Loretta moved towards Artak Budaghyan and
grabbed his gun, in an effort to either take it away or prevent him
from shooting. Budaghyan managed to get away from Loretta. Avetik
Budaghyan then attempted to stop his brother, but both fell over.
Avetik, visibly hurt, stood up. Nikolay Abrahamyan, the governor's
bodyguard, jumped him from behind and took away his gun. Avetik
then pulled out another gun and fired at Nikolay, who fell to the
ground and stayed there. Avetik tried to move up the driveway, but
shots were fired at him; the shooters, however, weren't captured
on tape. Avetik pulled back, fired one more shot towards the gate,
and fell to the ground. (The governor's office fails to mention here
that Avetik Budaghyan, it appears, was shot in the back.) During this
entire time, Artak Budaghyan remained on the ground. By 11:30 p.m.,
the injured were taken to the hospital.
To view footage from the security cameras published by A1+, visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTy4AYsMhfU.
Justice denied ushers in more violence
In the interim, former Deputy Governor Ara Dolunts has been appointed
as acting governor. The Armenian media has responded to the governor's
temporary leave-and the possibility of a fair trial-with cynicism.
"Suren Khachatryan doesn't picture himself holding a different
position and he is hoping that, after the conclusion of the
preliminary investigation and after he presents the incident as a
case of self-defense, he is once again going to get away with it,"
wrote Jamanag Daily on June 13.
ARF-Dashaktsutyun Parliamentary faction leader Armen Rustamyan has
attributed the violence to the failures of the justice system, which
by its very failure encourages citizens to take justice into their own
hands. "There is an environment of impunity in the Syunik Province,
and naturally this is not the first time that we hear of such things,"
Rustamyan was quoted as saying. "There is no end in sight for this,
because a real justice system is yet to be established, so that
people can resolve their disputes in a lawful manner." Speaking in
parliament on June 14, he urged his colleagues to follow the case
closely so that the guilty can be brought to justice.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/06/17/murder-highlights-yet-again-environment-of-impunity-in-syunik-province/
June 17, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.)-"At the moment, my mind is blank. I have only one
thought-that everything must be done to prove my son Tigran's
innocence," Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan told a journalist on
June 13.
Suren Khachatryan Tigran, 19, is reportedly being held at the
Nubarashen penitentiary.
He and his father's bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan, were arrested
following the murder of former mayoral candidate Avetik Budaghyan,
43, on June 1. They have been charged with murder (under Article 104
section 2 of Armenia's criminal code) and the illegal possession of
weapons (Article 235 section 1).
Governor Khachatryan, whose name has been linked with violent
incidents in the southern province, applied to leave his post until
the conclusion of the preliminary investigation, although the law
does not allow that. The government accepted his resignation on June 6.
The shooting also left Artak Budaghyan, the brother of the deceased
and a commander of a Karabagh army battalion, seriously injured. He
was shot three times according to his doctors. Nikolay Abrahamyan,
a relative of Governor Khachatryan and one of his bodyguards, also
suffered injuries.
"[Budaghyan] was armed and he attacked. [My son] defended himself,"
the governor told a reporter.
During the night of the incident, the Budaghyan brothers were
reportedly at a lakeside party attended by dignitaries including
Karabagh President Bako Sahakyan; Governor Khachatryan and his
entourage were also there. An argument between Khachatryan and Avetik
Budaghyan that night has been cited as the reason behind the shooting.
Governor office interprets events
On June 5, the governor's office published a version of the events to,
as it claims, set the record straight and counter "doubtful" accounts
of what happened-accounts that aim to "distort reality," "mislead
the public," and build tensions in Syunik and, specifically, Goris.
According to officials at the governor's office who reviewed the
security tape from June 1, his two sons came home at 10 p.m. in
separate cars; the governor himself returned at 10:16 p.m., and does
not appear in the tape thereafter. At 10:36 p.m., Avetik Budaghyan
drove up to the house. The two sons, their driver, and two bodyguards
approached him. They talked for 2-3 minutes; tensions ran high. The
governor's wife, Loretta Barseghyan, walked over, and soon Budaghyan
drove away. At 11:06 p.m., Budaghyan returned to the house. The same
five men and Loretta approached him again. A few minutes later, a
second car approached. Commander Artak Budaghyan got out of the car
and according to the governor's office-opened fire on the group. The
group dispersed, while Loretta moved towards Artak Budaghyan and
grabbed his gun, in an effort to either take it away or prevent him
from shooting. Budaghyan managed to get away from Loretta. Avetik
Budaghyan then attempted to stop his brother, but both fell over.
Avetik, visibly hurt, stood up. Nikolay Abrahamyan, the governor's
bodyguard, jumped him from behind and took away his gun. Avetik
then pulled out another gun and fired at Nikolay, who fell to the
ground and stayed there. Avetik tried to move up the driveway, but
shots were fired at him; the shooters, however, weren't captured
on tape. Avetik pulled back, fired one more shot towards the gate,
and fell to the ground. (The governor's office fails to mention here
that Avetik Budaghyan, it appears, was shot in the back.) During this
entire time, Artak Budaghyan remained on the ground. By 11:30 p.m.,
the injured were taken to the hospital.
To view footage from the security cameras published by A1+, visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTy4AYsMhfU.
Justice denied ushers in more violence
In the interim, former Deputy Governor Ara Dolunts has been appointed
as acting governor. The Armenian media has responded to the governor's
temporary leave-and the possibility of a fair trial-with cynicism.
"Suren Khachatryan doesn't picture himself holding a different
position and he is hoping that, after the conclusion of the
preliminary investigation and after he presents the incident as a
case of self-defense, he is once again going to get away with it,"
wrote Jamanag Daily on June 13.
ARF-Dashaktsutyun Parliamentary faction leader Armen Rustamyan has
attributed the violence to the failures of the justice system, which
by its very failure encourages citizens to take justice into their own
hands. "There is an environment of impunity in the Syunik Province,
and naturally this is not the first time that we hear of such things,"
Rustamyan was quoted as saying. "There is no end in sight for this,
because a real justice system is yet to be established, so that
people can resolve their disputes in a lawful manner." Speaking in
parliament on June 14, he urged his colleagues to follow the case
closely so that the guilty can be brought to justice.