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HAYRAPETYAN TO CRITICS: "THEY WILL BE SCARED TO DEATH OF ME."
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
10.09.12 | 15:58
Ruben Hayrapetyan's extensive interview to France-based Les Nouvelles
d'Armenie periodical has raised another wave of anger among Armenian
society. Hayrapetyan, in effect, threatened to retaliate against
civil society activists who blamed him for circumstances that lead
to a young doctor's death.
Actions of protest against the Parliament deputy started on June 17,
when at his family-run restaurant, Harsnakar, three military doctors
were brutally beaten; one of them, 33-year-old Vahe Avetyan, died in
hospital of head injuries.
Expressing his anger over the fact that protests were held in front
of his house, he said it was "encroachment upon my family".
"They'll see now what terrorizing and threatening can be. I'll make
sure that their families suffer," Hayrapetyan told the magazine,
apparently in reference to those who called for him t be held
responsible. "They will be scared to death of me. I am saying that
openly. If they are encroaching on mine, I am capable of keeping
and protecting my family and the families of my people. This has
become an issue of instincts [of protecting what's mine]... So am
I supposed to let them come against my children or let my sick wife
cry her eyes out? Am I supposed to sit by and do nothing? I will do,
they'll see, openly."
In reference to Hayrapetyan's threats, which activists have mostly not
taken seriously, ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan - who was among those
calling for Hayrapetyan's resignation from the National Assembly --
says they are "usually accompanied with actions".
"I am, of course, concerned with my family's safety, as now knowing
what that person is capable of, I understand that if he has said it,
he will resort to certain measures, but it will not stop us. It only
proves once again that it has to be fought against," Kharatyan told
ArmeniaNow.
Another outspoken critic, Garegin Chugaszyan, president of Information
Technologies Foundation, who has called Hayrapetyan "Kocharyan's
puppy", says he is not going to turn to the police.
"Of course, we are not afraid. And his words should be registered
by the Prosecutor General's office, those are explicit threats,"
he told ArmeniaNow.
The interview also reveals a conflict between Republican Hayrapetyan
and Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan.
Claiming that the protests against him were not a true civil society
movement, but a guided one with a purpose of driving him to bankruptcy,
Hayrapetyan said:
"What is this? Bankruptcy drive?.... What is it called?... They have
created something, collecting signatures to do everything to drive me
to bankruptcy. They think that I, like them, have stolen [become rich
by stealing], like Grzos [reference to another oligarch businessman
Khachatur Sukiasyan] bought property for a penny. Who is financing
them? Dodi Gago [Tsarukyan's insulting nickname]."
Tsarukyan's press secretary Iveta Tonoyan told RFE/RL, that Hayrapetyan
later denied mentioning Tsarukyan's name in his interview.
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
10.09.12 | 15:58
Ruben Hayrapetyan's extensive interview to France-based Les Nouvelles
d'Armenie periodical has raised another wave of anger among Armenian
society. Hayrapetyan, in effect, threatened to retaliate against
civil society activists who blamed him for circumstances that lead
to a young doctor's death.
Actions of protest against the Parliament deputy started on June 17,
when at his family-run restaurant, Harsnakar, three military doctors
were brutally beaten; one of them, 33-year-old Vahe Avetyan, died in
hospital of head injuries.
Expressing his anger over the fact that protests were held in front
of his house, he said it was "encroachment upon my family".
"They'll see now what terrorizing and threatening can be. I'll make
sure that their families suffer," Hayrapetyan told the magazine,
apparently in reference to those who called for him t be held
responsible. "They will be scared to death of me. I am saying that
openly. If they are encroaching on mine, I am capable of keeping
and protecting my family and the families of my people. This has
become an issue of instincts [of protecting what's mine]... So am
I supposed to let them come against my children or let my sick wife
cry her eyes out? Am I supposed to sit by and do nothing? I will do,
they'll see, openly."
In reference to Hayrapetyan's threats, which activists have mostly not
taken seriously, ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan - who was among those
calling for Hayrapetyan's resignation from the National Assembly --
says they are "usually accompanied with actions".
"I am, of course, concerned with my family's safety, as now knowing
what that person is capable of, I understand that if he has said it,
he will resort to certain measures, but it will not stop us. It only
proves once again that it has to be fought against," Kharatyan told
ArmeniaNow.
Another outspoken critic, Garegin Chugaszyan, president of Information
Technologies Foundation, who has called Hayrapetyan "Kocharyan's
puppy", says he is not going to turn to the police.
"Of course, we are not afraid. And his words should be registered
by the Prosecutor General's office, those are explicit threats,"
he told ArmeniaNow.
The interview also reveals a conflict between Republican Hayrapetyan
and Prosperous Armenia leader Gagik Tsarukyan.
Claiming that the protests against him were not a true civil society
movement, but a guided one with a purpose of driving him to bankruptcy,
Hayrapetyan said:
"What is this? Bankruptcy drive?.... What is it called?... They have
created something, collecting signatures to do everything to drive me
to bankruptcy. They think that I, like them, have stolen [become rich
by stealing], like Grzos [reference to another oligarch businessman
Khachatur Sukiasyan] bought property for a penny. Who is financing
them? Dodi Gago [Tsarukyan's insulting nickname]."
Tsarukyan's press secretary Iveta Tonoyan told RFE/RL, that Hayrapetyan
later denied mentioning Tsarukyan's name in his interview.