Samsonyan Made Sexual Insults Towards Khajakyans, Leading to Police Report

'Hraparak' has extensively covered the dispute between Narek Samsonyan and Davit Khajakyans.

'This morning, Narek Samsonyan was taken to the police station from his house yard by several police officers. The reason, as we understood, is a criminal case initiated for insulting Davit Khajakyans, a member of the 'Enlightened Armenia' party. Human rights defender Ruben Melikyan wrote on his Facebook page after the incident that 'someone (referring to Davit Khajakyans - ed.) has filed a report against Samsonyan for committing a legally dubious act of 'serious insult,' after which the investigator called Samsonyan and arranged for him to present for questioning. He left his home today to go for questioning, but was demonstratively apprehended and taken away by several police officers from his house yard.'

The incident began when a few days ago, Narek Samsonyan made offensive remarks towards the leader of the 'Enlightened Armenia' party, Edmon Marukyan, during a conversation with Naira Zohrebyan, calling him a political transgender. This was followed by Gevorg Gorgisyan, a member of the LHK, posting a comment addressed to Samsonyan, saying that the latter has no place even in a political garbage dump. 'It is not surprising that Mikayel Minasyan has stopped providing for Narek, and now the young man is searching for a different benefactor,' Gorgisyan wrote. His post was shared by Davit Khajakyans, the head of the 'Light' faction of the Yerevan City Council, mentioning Samsonyan and questioning him: 'I have always wondered what kind of reward this political fool has received. Narek Samsonyan, do you know?'

A comment argument ensued. Khajakyans referred to Samsonyan as a 'political idiot,' and in response, Samsonyan began to insult Khajakyans.

In a conversation with us, Davit Khajakyans said that after the comment argument, one of Samsonyan's friends contacted him and suggested meeting to talk and reconcile. They met, attended by Khajakyans, Samsonyan, his friend, and human rights defender Ruben Melikyan.

'As a result of the meeting, whatever we agreed upon should be published in text, reflecting that he (Narek Samsonyan) will no longer behave that way, he refuses, saying, 'I can't guarantee that I won't insult you again,' Khajakyans stated.

After that, Davit Khajakyans filed a report with the police regarding Samsonyan's insults towards him.

Since then, Samsonyan has continued to insult Khajakyans. In particular, he informed yesterday on his Facebook page that Davit Khajakyans had filed a report against him with the police again, making sexual insults towards him. Today, he was arrested regarding that case.

Davit Khajakyans told us that he was questioned at the police station today, and also a confrontation between him and Narek Samsonyan is scheduled to take place later today.

When we asked him if it would not be better to resolve the issue in a different context rather than filing a report with the police, Khajakyans replied, 'If by a different context you mean going to beat up, slap, or apply other physical force, then I think a political figure has no right to do such things. And even if anyone does such a thing, they will later face legal responsibility. Insulting in politics should be excluded, just as resolving issues through force should also be excluded. If people do not have enough decency to carry out a political debate, they should not be involved in politics.'

When asked if he would go to reconcile with Samsonyan and withdraw the complaint if such an offer were made, Davit Khajakyans said, 'If he publicly apologizes both to me and Edmon Marukyan, of course, I am ready.'

We also spoke with Ruben Melikyan. He told us that Samsonyan currently has the status of a 'detained person,' although various outlets have stated that Narek Samsonyan has been arrested. They are currently heading to the investigative office for questioning.