Harsnakar case to be forwarded to social justice tribunal
The criminal case of military doctor Vahe Avetyan, who died as a result of a scuffle at Yerevan's Harsnakar restaurant in June, will be examined by the social justice tribunal, representatives of "Vahe Avetyan" initiative group told reporters on August 27.
"The incident at Harsnakar is a systemized crime which resulted in the crisis of justice in our society. With the establishment of the tribunal we shall be able to protect our dignity," said Garegin Chukaszyan, a member of the initiative group.
Armenia's former ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan says there is hardly any person in Armenia who puts trust in the judicial system.
"We call on everyone to support the creation of the tribunal since the Harsnakar tragedy may serve as a stimulus for sadists. It is a murder committed in an atmosphere of impunity. I do believe that the murder was organized by the same people who perpetrated the March 1, 2008, deadly bloodshed," she said.
Tigran Egoryan, a legal representative for Avetyan, says they have filed at least 20 petitions, with the preliminary investigation body overturning all of them. In one of the petitions, the group motioned to involve [Harsnakar owner] Ruben Hayrapetyan in the case as a suspect.
The initiative group says they are determined to continue the struggle and apply to all instances to reinstate justice.
"Our law enforcers did their utmost to patronize Ruben Hayrapetyan and conceal the details of the incident. We condemn their biased and criminal attitude. This is a challenge to each and every citizen of Armenia and our Constitution. Evidently, our law enforcement agencies neglected their duties, demonstrating arbitrariness and acting beyond the Constitution," said writer and publicist Zaruhi Hovhannisyan, a member of the initiative group.
She says the criminal case should be re-examined. Moreover, the National Assembly should be proposed to study the possible resignation of the Prosecutor General, Chief of Police and head of the Investigation Department.
The case has already been forwarded to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan's Avan and Nor Nork Administrative Districts.
33-year-old army doctor Vahe Avetyan and three colleagues were brutally beaten on June 17 at Harsnakar restaurant in Yerevan. Avetyan, a father of two, died 12 days later.
