Smbat Hakobyan, member of the Union of Artsakh War Veterans, presented today to journalists shorthand of his phone talk with Ruben Hayrapetyan, President of Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), in which the last threatens to beat the veteran.
According to the war veteran, Hayrapetyan during the phone talk demanded from Hakobyan and his supporters to immediately stop "to play the ape and go home". He threatened that in other case he will beat them (this refers to the Artsakh war veterans' protest ed. note). When Hakobyan demanded from Hayrapetyan to show respect, the President of FFA started to use foul language. "Hayrapetyan and me had a dispute on June 22, 2:00 am, and now my friends and me are trying to prove that this is a case of political reprisal and a murder attempt on behalf of FFA President" he emphasized.
To note, on September 21 Smbat Hakobyan, an Artsakh war veteran, was severely beaten in the center of Yerevan. He said that Ruben Hayrapetyan's bodyguard and his godson was among those who beat him. The investigators have announced that three suspects have been detained and charged under Article 113 Part 2 Item 3 of the Armenian Criminal Code (infliction of moderately severe bodily injuries by a group of people). Hakobyan applied to the Central Office of Armenia's Investigation Commiteee with a request to ensure his safety on September 26. His request was fulfilled the same day. Hayrapetyan himself has denied his involvement in the incident.