Criminal proceedings against Syunik ex-governor’s son terminated

The Investigative Service of Armenian Defense Ministry has decided to terminate criminal proceedings against the son and a bodyguard of Suren Khachatrian, former governor of Syunik province, the press service of the Defense Ministry’s Investigative Service said.

According to the source, as a result of an objective and comprehensive examination of the materials collected, their analysis, assessment and comparison, a decision was taken to revoke the measure of restraint against the governor’s son Tigran Khachatrian and his bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosian and terminate the criminal proceedings against them as there were all signs of justifiable defense in their actions.

Under Article 263 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, an appeal against a decision about termination of criminal proceedings may be filed to the superior prosecutor within 7 days from the moment of receiving the decision’s copy by the suspect, accused person, defendant, their lawyers, the aggrieved person, and his representative.

Let us remind that Avetik Budaghian, a former candidate for Goris mayor, died in the June 2 shooting outside the house of then governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatrian. His brother Artak Budaghian, a military unit commander, received a serious gunshot wound and was hospitalized. The governor’s bodyguard Nikolai Abrahamian was also hospitalized. A criminal case was opened in connection with the incident under the RA Criminal Code’s Article 104 part 2 point 6 (murder), Article 112 part 1 (willful infliction of heavy damage to health) and Article 235 part 1 (illegal purchase, sale, possession, transportation or carrying of arms).