One man still in hospital after shootout in Armenian village

After a conflict with shooting in the village of Zartonk, six people turned for help to doctors; one of them remains in hospital.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the shootout broke out on April 13 during the conflict of supporters and opponents of the village elder. Five persons were hospitalized; two, including the gunman, were detained. On the same day, the head of the community, the elder, resigned.

Two participants of the conflict have been arrested, the Investigating Committee of Armenia has reported.

According to investigators, the conflict occurred among three villagers after the brother of one of them was beaten up. The villagers joined the dispute demanding the resignation of the village elder. A brawl broke out; stones and metal rods went into action. An elder's grandson opened a rifle fire and wounded several people.

The villagers explained the conflict by the fact that the former elder Paruir Sargsyan had headed the community for 23 years, and before him his father was the elder for 10 years. During this time, many problems had accumulated; and the villagers could voice them out only after the "velvet revolution," said Garik Karapetyan, a resident of the village of Zartonk.

He said that, according to the villagers, budget money was spent inefficiently, and the village problems were not solved.