Mouth-seamed Culprit is Kinsman of Vanadzor Mayor
06:44, January 28, 2013 | News | Right to Fair Trial, Right to Life
As galatv.am reports, the relatives of culprit Shaliko Manucharyan have demonstrated a protest action in front of the building of Lori region Court of Common Jurisdiction. It was unfolded that the defendant had his mouth seamed and kicked off a hunger strike. Reporter of GALLA had a discourse with Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor on this heated topic. The latter has revealed new details regarding the case.
“Shaliko Manucharyan was on the wanted persons’ list due to his alleged participation in a use of firearms related incident near cafe “Oasis”. Later he was located and according to his relatives was apprehended from his residence, thus he wasn’t in runaway or perhaps he was improperly searched for, I have no idea. Manucharyan is accused for having fired a gunshot or being at least present during the incident. According to the case materials, a few persons, I repeat once again, I am retrieving what his relatives have stated, “A few witnesses have testified that he was present at the case scene, but the wounded himself did not confirm the authenticity of that information. There are no fundamental grounds regarding Manucharyan’s presence at the case scene, neither fingerprints nor footprints hinting on his presence there”, stated Artur Sakunts in a discourse with us.
According to the human rights activist, Shaliko Manucharyan was among suspects over the murder case of Lori Region Prosecutor, who was apprehended to the Police department in 2008, was subjected to tortures there but refused to report on murder.
“Pursuant to his relatives’ words, tortures, not anyhow stipulated by any state document, were exerted against him back then about which he did not voice”, noted Artur Sakunts. He also stated there were no legal grounds to keep Shaliko Manucharyan under custody.
“The only ground is that he eloped during investigation period, but there were no objective grounds then, since the witnesses testified to his presence, while the aggrieved party denied it. On the other hand, a fact over violation of presumption of innocence is recorded. I have been already informed about a conducted court trial during which a motion was submitted over changing the detention as a measure of restraint. However, it should be noted that Shaliko Manucharyan was apprehended over the murder case of Lori Region Prosecutor. It was the very case when Vanadzor Mayor’s apartment was subjected to a search”, noted Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor. The human rights activist has also stated that Shaliko Manucharyan is a kinsman of Vanadzor Mayor.