The Assassination story continues
00:00, June 24, 2011 | Press Release | Right to Life | PoliceAfter a government meeting session, and during an interview given to “1in.am” Edmon Marukyan, advocate of Arman Yengibaryan’s successor, commented on the statement made by the RA Police Chief yesterday, regarding the death of Arman Yengibaryan.
Arman was killed by two gunshot wounds which he received when trying to flee the police near “Garegin Nzhdeh” metro station on June 14. (The police considered this act as “neutralization” of a criminal suspect stating that Arman Yengibaryan had used a firearm against the pursuing police officials).
Before returning to the advocate’s comments, it is worth noting the police chief’s statement, “At this point I just announced that the version that a wrong person was killed is eliminated, as all of the victims gave testimonies, and because we have taken finger prints from the crime scene, so on and so forth.”
Edmon Marukyan stated, “The police chief admits that the police have murdered a person and believe that the right person has been assassinated. We therefore assume it means that the police admit to having authorization to murder people. They believe it is lawful and claim they have killed the actual criminal. I am putting aside this issue, because very little about the details of the case have been revealed so far. As the police claim, the preliminary investigation is underway… But even if Arman Yengibaryan was the actual criminal suspect in this case, the police did not act lawfully. According to the information we have, two shots were fired at him; the first shot hit him in the stomach which neutralized him. The second shot hit him in the head.
He died immediately after the second shot. It appears this case is an assassination rather than “neutralization”, which the police chief believes is acceptable. I believe this statement could be used as evidence at the European Court of Human Rights. They claim, the police have killed the actual criminal, independent of various articled published via press. How can this be? As we get more information, more evidence will be revealed, but at this point I think making such a straightforward statement means influencing the preliminary investigation. In fact, the direction that the preliminary investigation is taking right now, accuses Arman Yengibaryan as the criminal and that the police actions were warranted and lawful.”
Artur Sakunts, head of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, and advocate Edmon Marukyan request that the police chief not influence the preliminary investigation process and stop intervening with such biased statements. Besides, it became clear from the interview that in response to the inquiries made by Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, the RA SIS replied yesterday, “In response to the information request sent by you on June 17, 2011, we would like to inform that a criminal case has been filed at RA Police GID SIC Investigation Department in regard to the incident that took place “Garegin Nzhdeh” metro station on June 14 pursuant to point 3, 4 of part 2 of Article 35-175 of RA Criminal Code, part 2 of Article 316 and Article 107 of RA Criminal Code. On June 15, 2011, the criminal case was sent to SIS, where on the same day based on the case-related materials a new criminal case was initiated according to Article 107 of RA Criminal Code and added to the criminal cases filed based on preparation of a bandit assault, dangerous violence against a representative of authorities. During the preliminary investigation, the police officials were also interrogated in line with numerous eyewitnesses, a number of examinations were appointed, the conclusions of which have not been received yet. The preliminary investigation still continues.”
It should be noted that preparation of a bandit assault, which was implemented through illegal intrusion into the apartment and application of a weapon or weapon like tools (point 3, 4 of part 2 of Article 35-175 of RA Criminal Code) is punished with imprisonment for a term of up to 6-10 years with or without confiscation of property. Violence or threat of violence, dangerous for life or health, against a representative of authorities or close relatives, connected with performance of his official duties, is punished with imprisonment for a term of up to 5-10 years (part 2 of Article 316). In other words these are the articles brought up against the criminal (after the identification of Arman Yengibaryan, the Investigation body will determine to close the criminal case or enroll another defendant, if it turns out that the suspect was not Arman Yengibaryan). While Article 107 concerns the police officer who used a weapon.
Murder of a criminal through the use of excessive measures when capturing the latter is punished with imprisonment for a term of up to 3 years. In fact this is where the criminal case will fit in. In the near future “1in.am” will continue the investigation with regard to the victims.