No Information Provided by Witnesses: Prosecutor's Office on Hayk Harutyunyan Case

As previously reported, former police chief Hayk Harutyunyan committed suicide in his private residence in Bjni during the night. According to media reports, the incident occurred in the presence of witnesses. Hayk Harutyunyan reportedly told those present: "The Prosecutor General and Sasun Khachatryan have ruined my life for the past few months, they are forcing me to give false testimony against Robert Kocharyan and Gegham Petrosyan, but they are not guilty," the media reports.

In response to this news, the advisor to the Prosecutor General, Gor Abrahamyan, wrote on his Facebook page: "It turns out that treachery and immorality have no limits in our reality, particularly when it comes to certain media outlets. Just minutes after the first reports on the death of former police chief Hayk Harutyunyan, these media outlets have allowed themselves to exploit even the 'blood of a deceased individual' for political and propaganda purposes. Given that the circumstances of Hayk Harutyunyan's death have not yet been uncovered and the criminal case has just been initiated, thoughts have been attributed to him that he cannot confirm or deny cynically; nevertheless, I find it necessary to mention that the Prosecutor General has never had any contact with Hayk Harutyunyan by any means. Secondly, at this time, no information has been obtained from any witnesses regarding such claims or statements. It is strange and highly indicative that such false, immoral information is disseminated precisely by media outlets solving particular propaganda problems, attempting to discredit the heads of criminal prosecution bodies through such vile methods. Given that Hayk Harutyunyan was one of the key witnesses in a highly publicized and significant criminal case, the Prosecutor's Office will exercise particular diligence in uncovering the real circumstances and motives behind his death," Gor Abrahamyan wrote.

The same information was also addressed by the head of the Information and Public Relations Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Naira Harutyunyan. "The website Hayeli.am has just published news: ‘I am being forced to give false testimony, as Robert Kocharyan and Gegham Petrosyan are not guilty,' is purported to be Hayk Harutyunyan's last words before his suicide," she stated.

We report that, in order to clarify the circumstances of Hayk Harutyunyan's death, the person who was with him at the scene has been interrogated. This individual provided the content of the conversation they had with Hayk Harutyunyan, which has not related to pressures exerted on him concerning the criminal case regarding the March 1 events or any other pressures by any individuals. The Investigative Committee announces that the news published on Hayeli.am does not correspond to reality. We urge the media outlet to refrain from publishing unverified information.