If My Petition is Granted and I am Released on September 3, I Will Ensure Everyone's Safety: Hakob Hovhannisyan

Hakob Hovhannisyan, who has filed a new complaint against Narek Sargsyan, the nephew of former President Serzh Sargsyan, and Arthur Manukyan, the son of former Prosperous Armenia Party MP Abraham Manukyan, stated that he has refused to participate in any proceedings.

In an interview with ArmDaily.am, Hovhannisyan said he is currently in the Nubarashen penitentiary and has been sentenced to 3 years and 4 months of imprisonment for another case. He recounted that after submitting the complaint, he faced Eric Baltayan. However, following the online publication regarding the complaint, he became aware of the enemies he has acquired, despite having his safety under control.

“Considering that being in custody prevents me from ensuring the safety of my loved ones, I have refused to give any testimony. However, this has been deemed unacceptable by law. I have requested that a lawyer be provided to me and asked for time to hire my own attorney, after which I will participate in the investigative proceedings,” stated Hovhannisyan.

He informed that he has submitted a petition for clemency to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian for early release. “I have been in custody for 2 years and 6 months. I have asked the president to grant me clemency, as I have a strong desire to continue my unfinished service. I participated in the Four-Day War in April and was discharged 6 months early from military service due to mental health issues incurred during that war. However, I now have a great desire to resume my service. I emphasize that my release has no direct connection to the criminal cases against Narek Alexandri Sargsyan and Arthur Arahamian Manukyan,” he said.

Hovhannisyan has been detained since February 19, 2017, and was convicted under the second part of Article 176 of the RA Criminal Code. However, on February 28, 2019, a case emerged regarding an incident that occurred on December 23, 2012.

Hovhannisyan recounted that on that day, he had an argument with Narek Sargsyan and Arthur Manukyan. “Currently, there is a public opinion that I have testified against the former authorities after the change of power in the country to be released; this is not true. I have had problems with Arthur for 7 years and have been looking for reasons to settle scores with them; therefore, I do not need anyone’s support for this. I want all my relatives, who see danger from them, to know this. If my petition is granted and I am released on September 3, I will ensure everyone’s safety,” Hovhannisyan stated.

He noted that he has met Narek Sargsyan only once, on December 23, 2012, and has had no relationship with him since then.

Providing details of the meeting, Hovhannisyan stated that in September 2012, he was accepted into the Agricultural University of Yerevan, where Eric Baltayan, who is the son of Arthur Manukyan’s aunt, was his classmate. “On December 23, I had discussions about financial issues with my classmate. To solve the issue, he contacted Arthur Manukyan, and that same night, we met in a parking lot on Khorenatsi Street in Yerevan, where an argument broke out, leading to gunfire and stabbings. Nothing was said about this until February 28 of this year. Since I was not present and my other classmate, Tigran Sargsyan, was there, he decided to testify about the crime committed earlier after the revolution. However, now I have concerns about my and my relatives' safety, and I hope that the president will satisfy my petition,” Hovhannisyan concluded.