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POLICE OFFICER PROVOKED ME, CALLING ME 'TURKISH AGENT': POLITICAL ACTIVIST ON TRIAL
07.18.2014 19:12 epress.am
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/07/18/police-officer-provoked-me-calling-me-turkish-agent-political-activist-on-trial.html
The defense in the case of political activist Shant Harutyunyan and
his friends said in court today that the testimony of police officer
Gegham Khachatryan (named as a victim in this case) in court and
the one he gave when questioned by police during the preliminary
investigation contradict each other.
Tigran Petrosyan's attorney Ara Zakaryan read in court the victim's
testimony given to police. According to Zakaryan, though the
officer claims he beckoned Harutyunyan and urged him not to cross
the street, video footage shows that the victim didn't try to speak
with Harutyunyan, but approached him from behind and grabbed him by
his neck.
In response, Khachatryan said it's just that his voice is not heard
in the video. Addressing Khachatryan, Harutyunyan asked why did he
whisper in his ear that he (Harutyunyan) is an agent of Turkey.
Harutyunyan asked whether Khachatryan was trying to provoke him or
fulfilling a specific order. The police officer denied that he said
such a thing.
Present in court today were Tigran Arakelyan, who was previously
imprisoned on political grounds, and Heritage Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian. Present at yesterday's court session was Armenian National
Congress MP, former prisoner of conscience Nikol Pashinyan.
Recall, Harutyunyan and several of his supporters were arrested
on November 5, 2013, at the start of an anti-government march, and
criminal proceedings were launched against them. They were charged
under RA Criminal Code Article 316 Section 2 ("violence against
a representative of the authorities that is dangerous for life or
health") and Article 185 Section 2 Paragraph 1 ("willful destruction
or spoilage of somebody's property, which caused significant damage,
committed by arson, explosion or other publicly dangerous method").
However, the initial charge was removed and replaced with RA Criminal
Code Article 258 Section 4 ("hooliganism committed with a weapon or
another item used as a weapon").
According to the case materials, the defendants on November 5 attacked
police officers. The defendants don't admit to the charges. They
claim that they were acting in self-defense: they hit back at men who
attacked them, interfered with their protest, and were in civilian
clothes.
07.18.2014 19:12 epress.am
http://www.epress.am/en/2014/07/18/police-officer-provoked-me-calling-me-turkish-agent-political-activist-on-trial.html
The defense in the case of political activist Shant Harutyunyan and
his friends said in court today that the testimony of police officer
Gegham Khachatryan (named as a victim in this case) in court and
the one he gave when questioned by police during the preliminary
investigation contradict each other.
Tigran Petrosyan's attorney Ara Zakaryan read in court the victim's
testimony given to police. According to Zakaryan, though the
officer claims he beckoned Harutyunyan and urged him not to cross
the street, video footage shows that the victim didn't try to speak
with Harutyunyan, but approached him from behind and grabbed him by
his neck.
In response, Khachatryan said it's just that his voice is not heard
in the video. Addressing Khachatryan, Harutyunyan asked why did he
whisper in his ear that he (Harutyunyan) is an agent of Turkey.
Harutyunyan asked whether Khachatryan was trying to provoke him or
fulfilling a specific order. The police officer denied that he said
such a thing.
Present in court today were Tigran Arakelyan, who was previously
imprisoned on political grounds, and Heritage Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian. Present at yesterday's court session was Armenian National
Congress MP, former prisoner of conscience Nikol Pashinyan.
Recall, Harutyunyan and several of his supporters were arrested
on November 5, 2013, at the start of an anti-government march, and
criminal proceedings were launched against them. They were charged
under RA Criminal Code Article 316 Section 2 ("violence against
a representative of the authorities that is dangerous for life or
health") and Article 185 Section 2 Paragraph 1 ("willful destruction
or spoilage of somebody's property, which caused significant damage,
committed by arson, explosion or other publicly dangerous method").
However, the initial charge was removed and replaced with RA Criminal
Code Article 258 Section 4 ("hooliganism committed with a weapon or
another item used as a weapon").
According to the case materials, the defendants on November 5 attacked
police officers. The defendants don't admit to the charges. They
claim that they were acting in self-defense: they hit back at men who
attacked them, interfered with their protest, and were in civilian
clothes.