FAMILY, REPRESENTATIVES OF SLAIN SOLDIER HOLD ARMENIA DEFENSE MINISTER PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE
epress.am
12.16.2011
RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan (pictured) is obliged to keep in
check bodies under his defense ministry's jurisdiction, including
keeping military police from coercing witnesses.
So reads a statement by Tsovinar Nazaryan, sister of rifle platoon
commander Artak Nazaryan, who died suddenly while serving in
Tavush marz (province) during peacetime on Jul. 27, 2010, and
her representatives Mushegh Shushanyan and Ruben Martirosyan. The
parties also insist that Ohanyan is obliged to order the defense
ministry's Investigative Service to launch a new criminal case on the
circumstances surrounding Artak's death and carry out a multi-faceted,
impartial and complete investigation.
The statement came about as a result of one of the more important
witnesses in Artak's case, Arman Mnatsakanyan, not yet being discharged
from military service though the term of his mandatory two-year
service expired on Dec. 4.
On Thursday, Tsovinar Nazaryan informed Epress.am that in court, Arman
Mnatsakanyan's testimonies often contradicted not only each other but
also his earlier testimony given during the preliminary investigation.
Thus, Artak's family and their representatives believe military police
coerced the witness.
"In the situation described, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan as 'head
of a state body' is personally responsible in keeping the witness
under military police custody as much as in obstructing objectivity
in the trial of Artak Nazaryan's case and covering up the truth,"
reads the statement.
Recall, the defense ministry claims that Artak's death was a suicide;
however, an autopsy and physical examination of the body conducted
later revealed traces of violence on his face and body, inflicted
upon the platoon commander 6 hours before his death. Deputy of the
military base where Nazaryan was employed, Captain Hakob Manukyan,
as well as fellow soldiers Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Adibek Hovhannisyan
and Harutik (Harutyun) Kirakosyan are named as the accused in the case.
From: Baghdasarian
epress.am
12.16.2011
RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan (pictured) is obliged to keep in
check bodies under his defense ministry's jurisdiction, including
keeping military police from coercing witnesses.
So reads a statement by Tsovinar Nazaryan, sister of rifle platoon
commander Artak Nazaryan, who died suddenly while serving in
Tavush marz (province) during peacetime on Jul. 27, 2010, and
her representatives Mushegh Shushanyan and Ruben Martirosyan. The
parties also insist that Ohanyan is obliged to order the defense
ministry's Investigative Service to launch a new criminal case on the
circumstances surrounding Artak's death and carry out a multi-faceted,
impartial and complete investigation.
The statement came about as a result of one of the more important
witnesses in Artak's case, Arman Mnatsakanyan, not yet being discharged
from military service though the term of his mandatory two-year
service expired on Dec. 4.
On Thursday, Tsovinar Nazaryan informed Epress.am that in court, Arman
Mnatsakanyan's testimonies often contradicted not only each other but
also his earlier testimony given during the preliminary investigation.
Thus, Artak's family and their representatives believe military police
coerced the witness.
"In the situation described, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan as 'head
of a state body' is personally responsible in keeping the witness
under military police custody as much as in obstructing objectivity
in the trial of Artak Nazaryan's case and covering up the truth,"
reads the statement.
Recall, the defense ministry claims that Artak's death was a suicide;
however, an autopsy and physical examination of the body conducted
later revealed traces of violence on his face and body, inflicted
upon the platoon commander 6 hours before his death. Deputy of the
military base where Nazaryan was employed, Captain Hakob Manukyan,
as well as fellow soldiers Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, Adibek Hovhannisyan
and Harutik (Harutyun) Kirakosyan are named as the accused in the case.
From: Baghdasarian