Public activist: Police of Armenia try to delay investigation of incident at Harsnakar Restaurant

• Friday, August 3, 17:51

The tragic incident at Harsnakar Restaurant owned by oligarch Rouben Hayrapetyan has once again demonstrated the Armenian authorities' policy of enslaving or expelling the citizens from their own country, Garegin Chugaszyan, analyst, member of the Vahe Avetyan public initiative, said at today's press conference. 

To recall, on June 17 the security guards of Harsnakar Restaurant severely beat Vahe Avetyan, major of the Armenian Defense Ministry, head of the HENT department of the Yerevan military hospital, as well as doctor Artak Bayadyan and senior lieutenant of the Armenian armed forces Garik Soghomonyan. Avetyan underwent brain surgery the same day. On June 29 Avetyan died at 7 pm. The incident caused a wide public response not only in Armenia, but also in Diaspora.   

The activist thinks that the law-enforcement structures are not going to complete the criminal case and they are trying to delay the process and to exempt Rouben Hayrapetyan from any responsibility.   

The lawyers of the aggrieved party were provided with the materials of the criminal case only on August 2.  "It is noteworthy that Vahagn Haroutyunyan is conducting the investigation. He is famous for the fact that he failed to disclose the case of 1 March 2008", Chugaszyan said.

The activist added that on August 7 the public initiative will light candles near Harsnakar Restaurant.  Afterwards the protest action will continue in the Avan administrative district of Yerevan, where Hayrapetyan lives. "We will not restrict out steps to this action. Our fight will continue until we gain full victory over the oligarchy", he said.