On June 4 court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities
of Yerevan started the hearings on the case of assault on the Head of “Investigative
Journalists” NGO Edik Baghdasarian. As it has been reported, on November 17,
2008 having left the building, where the “Investigative Journalists” office
is located, Edik Baghdasarian headed towards his car when he was assaulted by
three strangers. The offenders started beating the journalist, struck him with
a stone on his head. Edik Baghdasarian was taken to the hospital and diagnosed
with brain concussion. Kentron Police Department of Yerevan instituted criminal
proceedings on the incident (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, November
20-27, 2008 and November 14-19, 2008). The charge on Article
258 of RA Criminal Code (“Public disorder”) was brought with Karen Harutiunian,
who appeared in court as one of the assaulters of Edik Baghdasarian.
Meanwhile, the piece about the beginning of litigation, published on the same
day in “Hetq”, online-publication of “Investigative Journalists”, was emphasized:
“The law enforcement bodies, however, did not reveal the other two with whom
20 years old Karen Harutiunian made the attack (…), and the client of this
crime. K.Harutiunian not only denied his involvement in the incident but refused
to give evidence, either. Nevertheless, the investigation took the charges pressed
against him for granted (…).”
At the session of June 4, the court examined the victim and the part of the
witnesses. During the court hearings of June 10 Karen Harutiunian did not plead
guilty. The prosecution demanded to sentence the criminal to five and a half
year of imprisonment. The next session is assigned on June 19.
