17:00, 15 March 2013

In Armenia, at trial on officer's death prosecutor demands 13 years in prison for main suspect

At the trial of the case of the death of the contract officer Artak Nazaryan, the prosecutor has demanded 13 years of imprisonment for the main suspect Captain Akop Manukyan.

Speaking today his accusatory speech, prosecutor Arutyun Arutyunyan confirmed the version of the investigation about the suicide of Lieutenant Artak Nazaryan. The prosecutor asked to punish the main defendant – deputy battalion commander Akop Manukyan, accused of driving Nazaryan to suicide, with imprisonment for the term of 13 years.

As to the remaining three accused figurants – Lieutenant Vahagn Airapetyan and two privates Adibek Ovannisyan and Mkhitar Mkhitaryan, the prosecutor demanded a sentence of imprisonment for the term of 4 years each; and for the private Arutik Kirakosyan – 2 years in prison.

None of the five defendants pled guilty. Their relatives have repeatedly pointed out that the confessions had been knocked out of them by force.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent