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ACTIVIST KIDNAPPED AND BEATEN BY MASKED MEN: POLITICAL OPPOSITION CONDEMN ACT CITING HIGH LEVEL INVOLVEMENT
02.09.2015 14:45 epress.am
On Saturday, February 7, masked men kidnapped Artak Khachatryan from
Tolstoy St. near Tashir mall and beat him up. He was later found in
an unconscious state in Nor Nork's 8th district.
Khachatryan was heavily involved in the recent protests against the
Law on Turnover Tax and is a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party's
(BHK) political council.
The activist's brother, Artyom Khachatryan, told iLur.am that Artak
was kidnapped by 3 masked men with machine guns. He was found in Nor
Nork with serious injuries and had difficulty speaking and was later
sent to the Malatia Hospital.
"I spoke to him last night and there was nothing to be nervous about,
no suspicious talk, no one had called or threatened him. Artak has
no connection to the criminal world; they kidnapped him in broad
daylight on a street in Kentron (downtown). I'm assuming that this
was part of a plan by a special service," said Khachatryan.
Certain political parties and political figures have condemned the
incident. The BHK's political council considered the incident as an
impudent and cynical challenge directed toward the political forces
and society.
"It is clear hat the entire responsibility of the incident falls on
the country's political authorities. The main culprit of the gangster
environment and impunity created in the country is the country's elite
political power, who are also responsible for all this. We promptly
demand that law enforcement bodies discover in the shortest time
possible the culprits in this incident and all past ordered criminal
activities on political, civil officials and on activists. Let no one
think that the violence implemented against Artak Khachatryan and on
others is going to be left unpunished. Those who carried it out will
be punished, as well as those who ordered it. If law enforcement
does not (punish them), then the people will do it," stated BHK's
political council.
Armenian National Congress Party (HAK) considers Artak Khachatryan's
kidnapping and the brutal violence against him was no coincidence,
stressing that there is a link to a chain of insidious terrorist
actions unleashed against the opposition by the authorities.
"These types of actions by the authorities only call for an adequate
answer by the people and political forces to collectively revolt for
a speedy regime change, to restore the constitution, to establish
legitimate authorities, and secure the supremacy of rights and the
law," said the HAK's statement.
The Free Democrat Party also condemned the violence against Artak
Khachatryan noting that Armenian citizens are not protected in their
own country and their constitutional rights are being openly violated.
"The nondisclosure of these incidents creates a vicious atmosphere
of impunity and becomes the cause of their recurrence," said the
party's statement.
HAK faction MP Nikol Pashinyan noted on his personal Facebook page that
if the ruling authorities do not quickly and convincingly discover
the monstrous attack on Artak Khachatryan, than the attack on Vilen
Gabrielyan (Navak Jojogh) and other violent incidents would mean
that any Armenian citizen could claim that those entities which are
supposed to prevent and reveal such incidents are responsible for
organizing and implementing them.
"If these incidents and their nondisclosure are not followed by
resignations of high level officials responsible for law enforcement,
then any Armenian citizen has the right to claim that violence is
organized by Serzh Sargsyan's permission and approval, and maybe at
times directly addressed commands," stressed Pashinyan.
According to Artyom Khachatryan, as of Saturday, "A group of
investigators came from the Kentron police department, now the head
of the criminal investigation unit has taken over the investigation."
http://www.epress.am/en/2015/02/09/activist-kidnapped-and-beaten-by-masked-men-political-opposition-condemn-act-citing-high-level-involvement.html
02.09.2015 14:45 epress.am
On Saturday, February 7, masked men kidnapped Artak Khachatryan from
Tolstoy St. near Tashir mall and beat him up. He was later found in
an unconscious state in Nor Nork's 8th district.
Khachatryan was heavily involved in the recent protests against the
Law on Turnover Tax and is a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party's
(BHK) political council.
The activist's brother, Artyom Khachatryan, told iLur.am that Artak
was kidnapped by 3 masked men with machine guns. He was found in Nor
Nork with serious injuries and had difficulty speaking and was later
sent to the Malatia Hospital.
"I spoke to him last night and there was nothing to be nervous about,
no suspicious talk, no one had called or threatened him. Artak has
no connection to the criminal world; they kidnapped him in broad
daylight on a street in Kentron (downtown). I'm assuming that this
was part of a plan by a special service," said Khachatryan.
Certain political parties and political figures have condemned the
incident. The BHK's political council considered the incident as an
impudent and cynical challenge directed toward the political forces
and society.
"It is clear hat the entire responsibility of the incident falls on
the country's political authorities. The main culprit of the gangster
environment and impunity created in the country is the country's elite
political power, who are also responsible for all this. We promptly
demand that law enforcement bodies discover in the shortest time
possible the culprits in this incident and all past ordered criminal
activities on political, civil officials and on activists. Let no one
think that the violence implemented against Artak Khachatryan and on
others is going to be left unpunished. Those who carried it out will
be punished, as well as those who ordered it. If law enforcement
does not (punish them), then the people will do it," stated BHK's
political council.
Armenian National Congress Party (HAK) considers Artak Khachatryan's
kidnapping and the brutal violence against him was no coincidence,
stressing that there is a link to a chain of insidious terrorist
actions unleashed against the opposition by the authorities.
"These types of actions by the authorities only call for an adequate
answer by the people and political forces to collectively revolt for
a speedy regime change, to restore the constitution, to establish
legitimate authorities, and secure the supremacy of rights and the
law," said the HAK's statement.
The Free Democrat Party also condemned the violence against Artak
Khachatryan noting that Armenian citizens are not protected in their
own country and their constitutional rights are being openly violated.
"The nondisclosure of these incidents creates a vicious atmosphere
of impunity and becomes the cause of their recurrence," said the
party's statement.
HAK faction MP Nikol Pashinyan noted on his personal Facebook page that
if the ruling authorities do not quickly and convincingly discover
the monstrous attack on Artak Khachatryan, than the attack on Vilen
Gabrielyan (Navak Jojogh) and other violent incidents would mean
that any Armenian citizen could claim that those entities which are
supposed to prevent and reveal such incidents are responsible for
organizing and implementing them.
"If these incidents and their nondisclosure are not followed by
resignations of high level officials responsible for law enforcement,
then any Armenian citizen has the right to claim that violence is
organized by Serzh Sargsyan's permission and approval, and maybe at
times directly addressed commands," stressed Pashinyan.
According to Artyom Khachatryan, as of Saturday, "A group of
investigators came from the Kentron police department, now the head
of the criminal investigation unit has taken over the investigation."
http://www.epress.am/en/2015/02/09/activist-kidnapped-and-beaten-by-masked-men-political-opposition-condemn-act-citing-high-level-involvement.html