On November 10 the Prosecutor’s Office of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities of Yerevan stopped the investigation into the attack on free-lance correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” and “Aravot” newspapers Gagik Shamshian. It should be noted that on July 12 Gagik Shamshian who then resided in Nubarashen was harassed by the relatives and subordinates of the Nubarashen community head Mher Hovhannisian due to an article published earlier in “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” (the publication told in particular about the two relatives of the Nubarashen head, charged with a Yerevan bank robbery). The Prosecutor’s Office of Erebuni and Nubarashen instituted criminal proceedings on Article 164 ("The impediment of the legitimate professional activities of journalist”), part 1 of Article 176 (“Robbery”) and part 3 of Article 258 (“Public Disorder”) of the RA Criminal Code. On August 3 Erebuni Investigation Department of the Main Investigation Department of the RA Police instituted criminal proceedings against Gagik Shamshian himself – as the journalist was explained at the police, this was based on the appeals made by a number of citizens. Gagik Shamshian was charged on part 1 Article 136 (“Insult”), parts 1 and 2 of Article 178 (“Cheating”) and part 1 Article 182 (“Extortion”) of the RA Criminal Code. The journalist did not plead guilty on any of the episodes (see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, September 1-7, 2006). On October 17 Gagik Shamshian underwent a forensic examination, by which his capacity was confirmed.
As YPC was informed by the attorney of Gagik Shamshian Zaruhi Postanjian, the case in which her defendant was an injured party is discontinued by the Prosecutor’s Office of Erebuni and Nubarashen due to the absence “of sufficient proofs of corpus delicti in the actions of the suspects”. Zaruhi Postanjian noted she was going to challenge this decision at a higher prosecuting body.
Zaruhi Postanjian informed also that in the other case, where Gagik Shamshian is the suspect, the investigation is drawing to close.
