Haretounyan Would Not Have Yielded to Pressure, Says Margar Ohanyan

For many years—twenty years—I have worked with Hayk Haretounyan, and I have never met a person with such a good, state-minded mentality.

This was stated by Margar Ohanyan, the former head of the Traffic Police, in an interview with Tert.am, while speaking about former police chief Hayk Haretounyan, whose body was discovered in his villa in Bjni with a gunshot wound to the head.

"He was a wonderful person, a strong man; I can say many good things about him. I am very saddened by this incident and extend my condolences to his relatives," said Margar Ohanyan, noting that Hayk Haretounyan's two brothers also worked in the police system and that he considers them a special family.

He reported that he had not had contact with Hayk Haretounyan in recent times. Regarding any potential connection of this incident to the events of March 1, 2008, and the possibility of pressure on him, Margar Ohanyan stated, "I cannot say anything about that question; I can only say that Hayk Haretounyan was not afraid of anything. He was not that weak a man. I cannot say whether there were health issues or anything else, but he was a very strong officer," said Margar Ohanyan.

Ohanyan mentioned that on March 1, Haretounyan was the police chief, and naturally he must have known much about those events; however, he does not believe Haretounyan was subjected to pressure. "In my opinion, it is excluded that pressure would have been exerted on Hayk Haretounyan. He was not the type of person to yield to pressure," he said.