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Slow Progress in Proshyan Murder Investigation
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/07/slow-progress-in-proshyan-murder-investigation/
By Samson Martirosyan //
September 7, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.) - Five months have passed since Karabagh war veteran, ARF
member and mayor of Proshyan Hrach Muradyan, 50, was gunned down near
the municipality building, and the investigation appears to be moving
at a sluggish pace. Two brothers, Arayik and Artak Petrosyan, remain
under arrest, while the victim's family has resorted to protesting in
front of police headquarters demanding answers.
Arayik, 31, faced charges and criminal proceedings under Articles 104,
2.2 (murder of the person or close relative of the latter, due to
service and public duty of the person) and 235, 1 (illegal
procurement, transportation, keeping or carrying of weapons,
explosives or explosive devices, except smoothbore long-barrel hunting
guns, ammunition) of Armenia's criminal code. Even though Arayik's
arrest term was to expire in August, he remains in police custody.
Despite the lack of evidence, the court once again extended his arrest
by another two months.
Law enforcement officials claimed that there was an `urgent' need to
reexamine the main piece of evidence - the traces of metallic antimony
(a metalloid used in the production of bullets) found on Arayik's body
and car. Reexamination of the traces of antimony may bring some
clarification to the investigation, but under no circumstances can it
be a solid basis for prolonging his arrest term. Even if reexamination
proves that traces of antimony were the result of a gunshot, law
enforcement officials still won't be able to prove that antimony
traces were the result of the exact gunshot that killed Mayor
Muradyan.
Moreover, there seems to be no significant steps forward in the
investigation, despite previous announcements by police that they
would accelerate the investigation. So far, dozens of people have been
interrogated, but no breakthrough has been registered in the case.
What has been clarified, however, is that Arayik's Lada Niva car bears
a number plate beginning with two numbers, whereas authorities now say
that the Niva car spotted around the time of murder began with three
numbers. Investigators have ruled out that the plate could have been
replaced.
Arayik's brother, Artak, 33, who was also detained, then released and
then detained again, is still in custody. He faces charges of
hooliganism, for allegedly partaking in a skirmish in Sept. 2012,
following Muradyan's election victory.
Muradyan's relatives held a demonstration near the main police
headquarter in Yerevan on Sept. 2, demanding that those responsible
for the Mayor's murder be held accountable.
The Armenian Weekly will continue following this case closely.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/09/07/slow-progress-in-proshyan-murder-investigation/
By Samson Martirosyan //
September 7, 2013
YEREVAN (A.W.) - Five months have passed since Karabagh war veteran, ARF
member and mayor of Proshyan Hrach Muradyan, 50, was gunned down near
the municipality building, and the investigation appears to be moving
at a sluggish pace. Two brothers, Arayik and Artak Petrosyan, remain
under arrest, while the victim's family has resorted to protesting in
front of police headquarters demanding answers.
Arayik, 31, faced charges and criminal proceedings under Articles 104,
2.2 (murder of the person or close relative of the latter, due to
service and public duty of the person) and 235, 1 (illegal
procurement, transportation, keeping or carrying of weapons,
explosives or explosive devices, except smoothbore long-barrel hunting
guns, ammunition) of Armenia's criminal code. Even though Arayik's
arrest term was to expire in August, he remains in police custody.
Despite the lack of evidence, the court once again extended his arrest
by another two months.
Law enforcement officials claimed that there was an `urgent' need to
reexamine the main piece of evidence - the traces of metallic antimony
(a metalloid used in the production of bullets) found on Arayik's body
and car. Reexamination of the traces of antimony may bring some
clarification to the investigation, but under no circumstances can it
be a solid basis for prolonging his arrest term. Even if reexamination
proves that traces of antimony were the result of a gunshot, law
enforcement officials still won't be able to prove that antimony
traces were the result of the exact gunshot that killed Mayor
Muradyan.
Moreover, there seems to be no significant steps forward in the
investigation, despite previous announcements by police that they
would accelerate the investigation. So far, dozens of people have been
interrogated, but no breakthrough has been registered in the case.
What has been clarified, however, is that Arayik's Lada Niva car bears
a number plate beginning with two numbers, whereas authorities now say
that the Niva car spotted around the time of murder began with three
numbers. Investigators have ruled out that the plate could have been
replaced.
Arayik's brother, Artak, 33, who was also detained, then released and
then detained again, is still in custody. He faces charges of
hooliganism, for allegedly partaking in a skirmish in Sept. 2012,
following Muradyan's election victory.
Muradyan's relatives held a demonstration near the main police
headquarter in Yerevan on Sept. 2, demanding that those responsible
for the Mayor's murder be held accountable.
The Armenian Weekly will continue following this case closely.