Armenia: main witness changes evidence at trial on death of officer Nazaryan

On December 13, in Armenia, at the trial dealing with the death of Lieutenant Artak Nazaryan, the main witness Private Arman Mnatsakanyan changed his evidence against what he had said at the preliminary investigation, stating now that the officer died not on July 27, as documented in the case files, but early in the morning on July 26.

Let us remind you that according to the investigation, the officer was incited to suicide and shot himself from his service firearm, when on duty on his combat post in the morning on July 27, 2010. His body was found on a cliff near the village of Chinari, Tavush Region of Armenia, where Nazaryan took his service in the military unit "Megrabner".

The main witness in the case of Artak Nazaryan's death, Arman Mnatsakanyan, a 20-year-old conscript soldier and a cook of the military unit "Megrabner", said on December 13 that his testimony given to the investigation was written not by him, but by the investigator.

However, according to Tsovinar Nazaryan, the sister of the deceased, who is present at the trial as a victim, as long as the main witness continued his service in the military unit, he will give contradictory evidences.

"The interrogation of the witness, who is still under control of the Military Police, is not relevant. Mnatsakanyan cannot testify, he is under pressure," Ruben Martirosyan, the victim's lawyer, said.

"You're not a psychologist, are you?" Judge Samvel Mardanyan, who is chairing the trial, said in response.

"Let the witness to leave the army, and then he will give evidence. Two weeks ago, Arman asked for a defender at the court session; then, he appeared in the courtroom with his advocate. However, he went to the lawyers' firm accompanied by the Military Police, which gives us reason to believe that the witness not only under pressure, but also tried to be guided," said Ruben Martirosyan.

According to his story, a week ago Artak Nazaryan's mother and sister asked Seiran Oganyan, the Minister of Defence, to demobilize Arman Mnatsakanyan, whose army service term expired on December 4. The Minister promised to take the necessary steps.

"So far, the promised actions were never taken. We regularly call Minister's assistants. He had instructed his subordinates, but so far nothing has been done. A week has passed, but the main witness has not yet been demobilized and continues to be under the control of the Military Police. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is not interested to see the triumph of justice," said Martirosyan.

The information of the suffered party about the illegal extension of Mnatsakanyan's military service was commented by David Karapetyan, the MoD's press secretary, who said: "According to the law governing the sphere of armed forces, a soldier's term may be extended by another month. In this case, the law is not violated."

The next court session is scheduled for December 14.

Let us remind you that within the criminal case Nazaryan's colleagues were also detained and charged on the basis of Arman Mnatsakanyan's evidences. Meanwhile, parents of those accused of bringing the officer to suicide, say that their sons were beaten during the investigation; therefore, they had to plead guilty.