Yerevan: police officer Vardgesyan apologizes for incident with Akop Nazaryan

Senior Lieutenant Arthur Vardgesyan has treated his slap on the elderly demonstrator Akop Nazaryan as a mistake and apologized to the public.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 21 a rally was held in Yerevan against the increase in electricity tariff, accompanied by clashes of protesters with the police. The pensioner Akop Nazaryan said that during the rally the above policeman broke his hearing aid by slapping him on the face. After the incident, a service check was initiated against Vardgesyan; and Valery Osipyan, the Deputy Chief of the Yerevan Police, apologized for the actions of his subordinate; however, activists demanded a public apology from Vardgesyan.

Then, Vardgesyan apologized for his actions in respect of the pensioner, and stated his readiness to be punished.

"First of all, I apologize to my colleagues, society and citizens for demonstrating my unprofessional behaviour; I realize my mistake am ready to bear responsibility for all my actions," the "1in.am" quotes Vardgesyan's words.

The official investigation against Vardgesyan has been suspended, because all the materials were transferred to the Special Investigation Service, said Armen Malkhasyan, the spokesman of the press service of the Police of Armenia.

Earlier, the Armenian Ombudsman urged law enforcement bodies to bring the policeman to responsibility.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.