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FOCUS ON HAYRAPETYAN: AVETYAN TRIAL BEGINS TODAY WITH SPOTLIGHT ON MP
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
Society | 13.09.12 | 14:41
Hearings begin today in the murder case of Vahe Avetyan, who was
beaten to death June 17 by security guards at a restaurant belonging
to the family of National Assembly member Ruben Hayrapetyan.
The high-profile case drew public outrage and calls from civic
organizations to hold Hayrapetyan responsible. Though no charges were
filed against the MP, he submitted his resignation to Parliament and
has until September 21 to withdraw it.
Avetyan, 33, was a military doctor who, along with friends went to
Hayrapetyan's Harsnakar restaurant complex in Yerevan. Two other
doctors were injured when an argument ensued with the security guards.
The argument is believed to have erupted into a fight over whether
Avetyan's party met dress-code standards.
Six members of the Harsnakar staff will be on trial.
Meanwhile Hayrapetyan has draw more attention and outrage, after
giving a lengthy interview to Les Nouvelles d'Armenie periodical,
in which the MP threatened the civic activists who had picketed his
home and other places. Hayrapetyan vowed that such people should be
"scared to death of me".
In the interview Hayrapetyan - a member of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia -- claims that he is being targeted for criticism by
political opponents including Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader
Gagik Tsarukyan and Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan,
in an attempt to weaken President Serzh Sargsyan's (also of RPA)
chances of re-election next February.
The Republican law-maker called one of the activists "Kocharyan's
puppy". Hayrapetyan never personally refuted the interview. Instead,
PAP representatives stated that Tsarukyan and Hayrapetyan allegedly
had a phone conversation during which Hayrapetyan assured he had
never brought up Tsarukyan's name.
Ex-president Kocharyan's office manager Viktor Soghomonyan made a
harsh statement on Wednesday, addressed to Hayrapetyan:
"It is the first time ever I have come across such a diversity of
absurdities within one interview. So much that even responding feels
improper. It would seem that over the past 3-4 days Hayrapetyan would
have understood it himself - or somebody should have explained it
to him, and come up with an appropriate explanation. Unfortunately,
it didn't happen. For almost a decade he did not say a word from
the parliamentary rostrum, and all of a sudden this waterfall of
'thoughts', and with an air of political conspiracy at that," said
Soghomonyan.
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
Society | 13.09.12 | 14:41
Hearings begin today in the murder case of Vahe Avetyan, who was
beaten to death June 17 by security guards at a restaurant belonging
to the family of National Assembly member Ruben Hayrapetyan.
The high-profile case drew public outrage and calls from civic
organizations to hold Hayrapetyan responsible. Though no charges were
filed against the MP, he submitted his resignation to Parliament and
has until September 21 to withdraw it.
Avetyan, 33, was a military doctor who, along with friends went to
Hayrapetyan's Harsnakar restaurant complex in Yerevan. Two other
doctors were injured when an argument ensued with the security guards.
The argument is believed to have erupted into a fight over whether
Avetyan's party met dress-code standards.
Six members of the Harsnakar staff will be on trial.
Meanwhile Hayrapetyan has draw more attention and outrage, after
giving a lengthy interview to Les Nouvelles d'Armenie periodical,
in which the MP threatened the civic activists who had picketed his
home and other places. Hayrapetyan vowed that such people should be
"scared to death of me".
In the interview Hayrapetyan - a member of the ruling Republican
Party of Armenia -- claims that he is being targeted for criticism by
political opponents including Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader
Gagik Tsarukyan and Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan,
in an attempt to weaken President Serzh Sargsyan's (also of RPA)
chances of re-election next February.
The Republican law-maker called one of the activists "Kocharyan's
puppy". Hayrapetyan never personally refuted the interview. Instead,
PAP representatives stated that Tsarukyan and Hayrapetyan allegedly
had a phone conversation during which Hayrapetyan assured he had
never brought up Tsarukyan's name.
Ex-president Kocharyan's office manager Viktor Soghomonyan made a
harsh statement on Wednesday, addressed to Hayrapetyan:
"It is the first time ever I have come across such a diversity of
absurdities within one interview. So much that even responding feels
improper. It would seem that over the past 3-4 days Hayrapetyan would
have understood it himself - or somebody should have explained it
to him, and come up with an appropriate explanation. Unfortunately,
it didn't happen. For almost a decade he did not say a word from
the parliamentary rostrum, and all of a sudden this waterfall of
'thoughts', and with an air of political conspiracy at that," said
Soghomonyan.