The case upon the assault of Argishti Kivirian, Coordinator of ARMENIA Today
news agency, Director of “Bagin” legal company, was requalified to Article 34-104
of RA Criminal Code, i.e., murder attempt. As it has been reported, on April
30 at about 5.00, strangers with bats attacked Argishti Kivirian on his way
home from the office which is located in the next entrance. Argishti Kivirian
in grave health condition and with multiple injuries, also on his head, was
taken to hospital, where he spent a week under in-patient treatment. Right after
the incident the police instituted criminal proceedings on Article 117 of RA
Criminal Code, “Intentional non-grave health injuries”, which was strictly criticized
by lawyers, human rights organizations. Later, the case was transmitted to the
Investigative Department of RA National Security Service. On May 8, free-lance
journalist Gagik Shamshian, convened to the National Security Service to give
evidence, confirmed the authenticity of the photos made at the site of attack,
and gave to investigators the source files of the digital photos. On Shamshian’s
photos the bloody bat and the gun shells are pictured (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
May 9-14, 2009).
