Sashik Said: Narek Shot Davit in the Leg, Take the Blame for Yourself. A Neighbor of the Sargsyans is in Court

In the trial regarding Hayk Sargsyan, son of Alexander Sargsyan, brother of Serzh Sargsyan, witness Artur Ghevondyan stated that he had no connection to the incident. This was stated by Artur Ghevondyan during the ongoing proceedings at the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court today.

“Narek Sargsyan took an inhumane step against me by involving me in a story I have no connection to at all. I don't know who fired the shot, nor was I at the scene. I only heard about it, just like you did,” said the witness, who is also a neighbor of the Sargsyans.

However, Judge Anna Danibekian insisted that he inform the court of everything he knows. “On April 1, 2007, around 19:30, Narek called me and said to come down quickly, whatever the boss says, say 'yes'. Sashik said: Narek suddenly shot Davit in the leg, take the blame for yourself, everything will be fine, don't worry,” Ghevondyan recounted.

He also shared that he refused to comply with Alexander Sargsyan’s directions, after which Narek Sargsyan invited him to the basement, cursed at him, and yelled. Narek's father, Alexander Sargsyan, also came to the basement in response to the shouting and reprimanded his son.

“Then the police came, they threw the shells under the hallway, marked them with chalk, and took me to the police station. At the police station, I wrote down what the investigator dictated. I asked, 'Is there much damage to his leg?' They said, 'Not his leg, it's his stomach.' They wrote something, I didn't even read it to see what it was, I just signed. I was already not aware of what was happening,” he said.

Artur Ghevondyan also mentioned that after the case was resolved, he went to Russia, and years later returned to find Davit, learning he had recovered and was living his life; the Sargsyans had even bought him a car. “I came back and saw he was into money, flying to Dubai, on vacation. I didn't think at that time that he might have received a kidney transplant, as he announced from this podium. I would say he got what he demanded, he is free. Later, until 2017, he had some conflict with Sashik Sargsyan. Sashik Sargsyan dismissed him from his job, after which he allegedly got involved with drugs. That's what I heard. After the revolution, he placed all the blame on Hayk Sargsyan. That is the reality. Whatever it is, I speak the truth,” the witness said.

It is worth recalling that Hayk Sargsyan has been charged with attempted murder committed in 2007. On the evening of April 1, 2007, a resident of Yerevan, 25-year-old Davit Simonian, was hospitalized with injuries from shots fired at the intersection of Tumanyan and Nalbandyan streets, near Alexander Sargsyan's house. On the same day, his friend Artur Ghevondyan went to the police, presented the pistol from which the shot had been fired, and stated that he had found it near a kindergarten and accidentally shot his friend.

The criminal case initiated on this fact was closed some time later based on the grounds of reconciliation with the victim, as Davit Simonian did not file a complaint. Eleven years later, on June 29, 2018, Davit Simonian submitted an application to the prosecution, indicating that he had been shot and injured not by Ghevondyan, but by Hayk Sargsyan in the security room designated for their home on the first floor. His friend had given false testimony as the Sargsyans had threatened him, stating he wouldn't live long if he didn't comply. The criminal case that had been closed 12 years ago was reopened after new circumstances emerged.