Armenian National Congress Statement Regarding Harsnakar Incident

Military doctor Vahe Avetyan, who was brutally beaten in Harsnakar restaurant, after staying 10 days in coma, died in hospital on June 29. The Armenian National Congress extends its condolences to the family of and relatives of Vahe Avetyan.

NA MP and owner of Harsnakar restaurant Ruben Hayrapetyan’s criminal gang has repeatedly committed crimes without being punished, as a result of which Armenian citizens suffer or die. Back in 2008, on the voting day of presidential elections Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s poll-watcher was abducted and brutally beaten up in Harsnakar restaurant. The law-enforcers didn’t undertake any steps to punish the criminals. About a year ago, in the same restaurant the security guards of Hayrapetyan were involved in a shooting incident, as a result of which two men were moved to hospital. The law-enforcers labeled this incident as unintentional behavior. In the case of Vahe Avetyan and two other doctors Ruben Hayrapetyan’s security service’s participation in the murder was denied. But there is evidence, specifically videos that show that one of them is Hayrapetyan’s bodyguard.

The impunity of Hayrarpetyan’s gang and its scorn and audacity toward the society and people has only one explanation. Serzh Sargsyan’s regime and his Republican party clearly sponsor and support criminal oligarchs because they need their services during the falsification of elections and intimidating voters.

No doubt Vahe Avetyan’s death can be considered one of the regular murders committed by the gang supported by the regime. The ANC will do its best to bring all the culprits of the incident to justice sooner or later.