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ARF SAYS ARTSAKH HERO'S KILLING WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
http://asbarez.com/109207/arf-says-artsakh-hero%E2%80%99s-killing-was-politically-motivated/
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
Armen Rustamian
YEREVAN-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation said Wednesday that
the shooting death of one its members and the mayor of the village
of Proshian Hratch Mouradian was politically motivated, citing years
of harassment.
Mouradian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and an
Artsakh War hero was reportedly gunned down as he was headed to his
office Tuesday and suffered injuries to his right temple.
Mouradian had an exemplary career from the onset of the Karabakh
liberation movement until its end. He was awarded the Military Cross
and several medals for his service to his country and heroism on the
battlefield in Artsakh.
"There was definitely a political subtext," ARF Supreme Council of
Armenia representative Armen Rustamian told RFE/RL's Armenian service.
"The authorities are doing everything to hide that subtext."
"We have long brought to the authorities' attention the fact that there
is constant tension around Hratch for a very simple reason: some people
were not interested in the popularity enjoyed by Hratch. The existence
of a mayor not belonging to their party and running a large community
so close to Yerevan kept many people restless," said Rustamian.
Rustamian said that Mouradian was at odds with local activists of
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and other government loyalists
throughout his eight-year tenure. He said the Proshian mayor received
threats from unknown individuals and faced frequent financial audits
by other higher-level authorities.
"They realized that they can't do that through elections and switched
to the well-known methods," claimed the head of Dashnaktsutyun's
governing body in Armenia.
The Armenian police say they have questioned Proshian residents in
connection with the killing. But no suspects have been arrested or
identified yet.
Rustamian sounded pessimistic about chances of the investigators
identifying the masterminds and perpetrators of the crime. He said
that many political killings committed in Armenia in the past remain
unsolved.
On Tuesday, police reported that shrapnel from a bullet was recovered
from the 50-year-old village leader during preliminary forensic
investigation by the medical examiner. To identify the make and
caliber of the weapon used to shoot Mouradian an investigative task
force has been assigned by the prosecutor's office.
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia issued an announcement, in which
it called the killing a "pre-meditated and planned killing."
"Regardless of who the culprits are, it is evident that the crime
occurred in an atmosphere of impunity and lawlessness," said the
Supreme Council announcement.
Mouradian served as the head of the village since 2005 and enjoyed
the support and popularity of his villagers, which, according to the
ARF Supreme Council of Armenia, had made certain circles unhappy.
The announcement stated that during his tenure, efforts were always
made to destabilize his administration of the village.
"In condemning this crime, the ARF demands the quick and complete
revelation of the crime and due punishment for those responsible,"
said the announcement.
From: A. Papazian
http://asbarez.com/109207/arf-says-artsakh-hero%E2%80%99s-killing-was-politically-motivated/
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
Armen Rustamian
YEREVAN-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation said Wednesday that
the shooting death of one its members and the mayor of the village
of Proshian Hratch Mouradian was politically motivated, citing years
of harassment.
Mouradian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation and an
Artsakh War hero was reportedly gunned down as he was headed to his
office Tuesday and suffered injuries to his right temple.
Mouradian had an exemplary career from the onset of the Karabakh
liberation movement until its end. He was awarded the Military Cross
and several medals for his service to his country and heroism on the
battlefield in Artsakh.
"There was definitely a political subtext," ARF Supreme Council of
Armenia representative Armen Rustamian told RFE/RL's Armenian service.
"The authorities are doing everything to hide that subtext."
"We have long brought to the authorities' attention the fact that there
is constant tension around Hratch for a very simple reason: some people
were not interested in the popularity enjoyed by Hratch. The existence
of a mayor not belonging to their party and running a large community
so close to Yerevan kept many people restless," said Rustamian.
Rustamian said that Mouradian was at odds with local activists of
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and other government loyalists
throughout his eight-year tenure. He said the Proshian mayor received
threats from unknown individuals and faced frequent financial audits
by other higher-level authorities.
"They realized that they can't do that through elections and switched
to the well-known methods," claimed the head of Dashnaktsutyun's
governing body in Armenia.
The Armenian police say they have questioned Proshian residents in
connection with the killing. But no suspects have been arrested or
identified yet.
Rustamian sounded pessimistic about chances of the investigators
identifying the masterminds and perpetrators of the crime. He said
that many political killings committed in Armenia in the past remain
unsolved.
On Tuesday, police reported that shrapnel from a bullet was recovered
from the 50-year-old village leader during preliminary forensic
investigation by the medical examiner. To identify the make and
caliber of the weapon used to shoot Mouradian an investigative task
force has been assigned by the prosecutor's office.
The ARF Supreme Council of Armenia issued an announcement, in which
it called the killing a "pre-meditated and planned killing."
"Regardless of who the culprits are, it is evident that the crime
occurred in an atmosphere of impunity and lawlessness," said the
Supreme Council announcement.
Mouradian served as the head of the village since 2005 and enjoyed
the support and popularity of his villagers, which, according to the
ARF Supreme Council of Armenia, had made certain circles unhappy.
The announcement stated that during his tenure, efforts were always
made to destabilize his administration of the village.
"In condemning this crime, the ARF demands the quick and complete
revelation of the crime and due punishment for those responsible,"
said the announcement.
From: A. Papazian