‘My son is a decent guy, and he got into university for free’: ‘Hraparak’

‘Hraparak’ newspaper reports: On January 30, in connection with the death of conscript Vahram Mkrtich Avagyan at the Army Training Center of the Defense Army, criminal proceedings have been initiated and fellow soldiers Davit Arakelyan Movsisyan, the son of former RPA MP Arakel Movsisyan, and Khachik Armen Gasparyan and Spartak Arturi Avetisyan have been arrested. The latter were arrested on suspicion of committing a criminal act under Article 359, Part 3 of the RA Criminal Code, which pertains to violating the regulatory rules governing the relationships of soldiers in the absence of a subordinate relationship between them.

We spoke with Arakel Movsisyan, asking whether he had spoken to his son after the arrest and if he had given any explanations. It should be noted that media reports have suggested that Movsisyan’s son served in an elite unit where the sons of high-ranking officials and influential individuals serve. According to information, Movsisyan’s son had privileges in the unit, being a ‘chast nayshchik’, and had allegedly had a confrontation with Vahram Avagyan.

‘I last saw him during service; I haven’t seen him after the ‘prisyag’ (oath). I haven’t spoken to him since the arrest, his lawyers are handling his case, and I am not obstructing anything, I’m not aware of anything else; let the lawyers answer you, there’s a trial going on,’ Arakel Movsisyan responded to our question.

We then asked Movsisyan if, in civilian life, his son often participated in ‘razborkas’ (brawls), as it was said he had been a ‘chast nayshchik’. ‘You are asking the wrong questions; my son is a decent guy, and he got into university for free; don’t ask me such questions,’ Movsisyan said and hung up the phone.