On October 12   between the hours of 8:30-9:00 pm Suren Movsisyan, aged 24, was gunned down on Atarbekyan Street in the town of Etchmiadzin. He died after being shot a total of 7 times. The incident has prompted the local Police Investigations Unit to initiate a criminal case in accordance with Section 1, Article 104, of the Armenian Criminal Code.

The murderer chose one of the busiest parts of the town to gun down his victim. There are several commercial businesses in the area along with a taxi-stand and a stop for buses and minivans leaving for Yerevan.

On July 29th of this year “Hetq” reporters visited the village of Geghamabak in the Gegharkunik Marz to gather information on the activities of the local Municipality. The reporters encountered a group of individuals, lead by Viktor Barseghyan, the village Mayor’s father. Using physical force and intimidation the group began to impede the work of the journalists who were literally forced to leave the scene. The group then proceeded to hurl stones at the car, with the reporters inside, as it drove away. (See: The Village of Geghamabak Serves as the Mayor’s Private Farm)

In comparison to years past, the number of criminal court cases dealing with human trafficking has gone down dramatically. In other words, either such criminal cases have decreased or law enforcement officials are finding it harder to expose such incidents.

To get to the bottom of the matter “Hetq” has been making inquiries at the Police Department’s Information Division for the past several weeks. We have been trying to make contact with any responsible official at the Police Anti-Trafficking Unit in order to contact an interview. Officials we have spoken to at the Information Division have remained steadfast in their demand that, “all such inquiries should be sent in writing and afterwards we will provide exhaustive answers in detail.”

As our readers are already know the Ijevan Municipality has initiated a legal suit in the Yerevan Civil Court designed “to compel the refutation of information that has tarnished our working reputation and good name and to seek compensation of incurred losses.” The suit brought by the Municipality demands that, “the Investigative Journalists, NGO be compelled to refute the baseless information published regarding the Ijevan Municipality and news that has tarnished the honor, dignity and working reputation of Ijevan Mayor Varujan Nersisyan.”

Editor’s Note - The following story is a microcosm of the situation in Armenia. Employees of the security force owned by businessman Gagik Tzarukyan, a Deputy in the National Assembly and leader of the Prosperous Armenia political party, murdered a Russian military officer.

In its previous issue, « Hetq » had published an article about a murder that took place in the town of Etchmiadzin. On March 13th, 23 year-old Sepuh Karapetyan was killed. According to our sources, Zarzand Saroyan, the son of National Assembly Deputy General Seyran Saroyan, committed the crime.

Hetq reported recently on the disagreement between programmer Hrayr Avanesyan and the Armenian Electric Networks, in particular the general director of the latter, Yevgeny Gladunchik.  Gladunchik refused to recognize the ownership rights of Avanesyan regarding the computer program called Gold.  The AEN uses this program to calculate the cost and quantity of the electricity it supplies.

On June 28, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg issued its first verdict against the Republic of Armenia, which included a fine of 4,000 Euros.

Judge Pargev Ohanyan of the Kentron and Nork Marash Court of First Instance decided to imprison defendant Andranik Sargsyan simply because his lawyer failed to turn up for the court sessions.