One of the defendants in the Pemzashen murder case has gone on a hunger strike: lawyer explains the reason

Yes, Arkadi Barskyan has gone on a hunger strike. His lawyer Vladimir Minasyan confirmed this in a conversation with Auroranews. It is noteworthy that Arkadi Barskyan is one of the defendants in the horrific murders of 31-year-old Zarine Meliksetyan, her 12-year-old daughter, and her 8-year-old son in the village of Pemzashen in the Shirak region. He has been on a hunger strike since August 4.

“By means of the hunger strike, he is trying to express his protest because he believes that the law enforcement agencies are not conducting a multifaceted and objective investigation. He demands that the investigation be handed over to investigators with a more professional composition,” said lawyer Vladimir Minasyan.

Recall that on November 9 of last year, 31-year-old Zarine Meliksetyan, her 12-year-old daughter, and her 8-year-old son were found murdered in their own home in Pemzashen. 32-year-old Vruyr Barskyan, a resident of the Shirak region, and his relative, 41-year-old Arkadi Barskyan, were arrested and then detained on suspicion of the brutal murders. Vruyr Barskyan admitted the charges against him, providing a self-incriminating testimony, while Arkadi Barskyan, on the contrary, denies the charges and states that he was not present at the crime scene. Both defendants are married and have children. The murdered woman’s husband was working abroad and returned after the tragic incident.

According to the version of the Investigative Committee, the motivation for the inhumane murders was robbery.

Vruyr Barskyan has been charged under Article 155 (murder) of the RA Criminal Code, parts 2, points 6, 8, and 13, part 3, points 3, 5, 6, and 13 (2 episodes), Article 252 (robbery) part 3, point 2, and Article 198 (acts of a sexual nature against a person) part 4. Arkadi Barskyan has been charged under Article 155, part 2, points 8 and 13, and Article 252, part 3, point 2.