Colonel Budaghian likely to be transferred to ward tomorrow

Colonel Artak Budaghian is in moderately grave condition, the correspondent of Aysor.am was informed by the Head of the Central Clinical Military Hospital Lieutenant Colonel Aram Asaturian.

He said Artak Budaghian is still in the intensive care unit, but he has already started to walk and speak. Asked whether the colonel was informed about his brother’s death, the doctor replied he didn’t discuss that subject with Budaghian, but in his opinion, the colonel does not know.

The hospital head noted that Artak Budaghian will remain in hospital for another 20 days. He added that Budaghian will probably be transferred to a ward tomorrow.

Artak Budaghian had received a gunshot wound to the liver and underwent three surgeries.

Let us remind you that former candidate for Goris mayor Avetik Budaghian was killed in the June 1 shootout near the house of then governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatrian in Goris. Avetik Budaghian’s brother – Artak Budaghian, a military unit commander, was seriously wounded and taken to a military hospital. The governor’s bodyguard Nikolai Abrahamian was also wounded. The governor’s son, Tigran Khachatrian, and another bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosian, were arrested on suspicion of murder.

On June 3 Tigran Khachatrian and Zarzand Nikoghosian were charged under Article 104 part 2 point 6 (murder) and Article 235 part 1 (illegal purchase, carrying, and possession of weapons) of Armenia’s Criminal Code.

The Synuik regional court of general jurisdiction granted investigators’ petition to use two month arrest as a measure of restraint against Tigran Khachatrian and Zarzand Nikoghosian. The two men were transferred to Nubarashen penal institution.