Arayik Gevorgyan, the member of the Committee from “Rule of Law” party had threatened “Aravot” journalist during the municipal elections, saying: “If you were a boy, I would have punched you and then you would know, look at this whelp, illiterate”, etc. Malatia Police have made a decision not to start a case grounding it with lack of crime. Moreover, for a long time, despite our appeal, the sample of the decision has not been given to us to be able to lodge an appeal. At last, after complaining to the prosecutor general, we received the sample of the decision from the Prosecutor’s office. The decision entails interesting circumstances. The President of the Committee of that particular polling station, member of “Armenian Revolutionary Federation” party Armen Vardanyan, who was present during Arayik Gevorgyan’s quarrel, in addition, he has held Arayik’s hands for him not to hit and attack us, has noted in the explanation as if he has not remembered what conversation we have had with Arayik Gevorgyan, that is, he did not remember what Gevorgyan has told.
Committee Member from the Republican Party of Armenia Harutyun Hakhverdyan has mentioned in the explanation as if he has not seen the quarrel, Arsen Manukyan from “Prosperous Armenia” Party likewise has a trouble with his memory, he does not remember what words Arayik Gevorgyan told the journalist. But the most noteworthy is Arayik Gevorgyan’s explanation, which has found its place in the decision taking a large space: “On addressing journalist Hripsime Jebejyan with the following expression: “If you were a boy, I would have punched you and then you would know”, Gevorgyan has noted that he has not threatened anyone, he has simply quarreled loudly and has made the mentioned announcement by having a respect that a woman was standing in front of him.”
Furthermore, Arayik Gevorgyan has mentioned as if, moreover, the journalist has said “groundless insulting words” to him. Saying groundless insulting words the member of the committee constitutes that in the polling station he has been asked why the ballots are shown to him before dropping them in the box.
The decision does not imply any single notice of the explanation of the incident from our viewpoint, how Arayik Gevorgyan has behaved in the polling station. Besides the explanation, a video is in place showing a part from the quarrel where it is clearly seen who behaves how. Even more, we have provided an audio record to the investigator as well.
Meanwhile, Investigator Halabyan has concluded the decision, stating: “A quarrel and a loud conversation has occurred between Arayik Gevorgyan and media journalists in 7/46 polling station which has lasted seconds.” While the duration of the video and audio records attached to the material, amounted to at least 10 minutes altogether, during which Arayik Gevorgyan continuously shouts, quarrels and insults.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
