– Mr. Hovsepyan, during his meeting with the law-enforcers in spring 2011 the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan assigned them to investigate the March 1 case in a more aggressive and vigorous manner. At the end of the last year the Special Investigative Service publicized a report, which showed that there was no progress. Can we assume that this order of the President merely had a campaign purpose in order to consider the demand of the ANC satisfied?
– There has been no report issued by the SIS, neither was there any report issued by any law-abiding body. The formulation used by the representatives of mass media is not accurate. Our legislation doesn’t anticipate such a mechanism because otherwise the secrecy of the investigation process would be endangered and the independence of the structure would be put into doubt. The SIS has only issued a statement in order to suffice the curiosity and need for information on part of the society and particularly interested individuals. Indeed, only the portion of the information, which wouldn’t jeopardize the investigative process. And this was not the first statement. There have been a number of those issued during the conduct of the investigation. Sometimes we have even released full testimonies. They have numerously made statements asking the support of the public to the investigation, asking the testimonies of possible witnesses and guaranteed the anonymity of the witnesses. The investigation of this case will definitely continue until all the circumstances are revealed. It is evident that even the “interested witnesses,” who must have been most interested in the investigation of the case were eluding questioning and making testimonies; not to mention that by their behavior they were even more entangling the case. At any rate, after the assignment of the President the attained evidence has been reviewed and analyzed. Hundreds of people have been invited to additional interviews. New witnesses were revealed.
– Don’t you think that the demands of the relatives of the killed protestors to identify and punish the culprits are substantiated? Why none of the crimes has been uncovered?
– This is also our demand. As I mentioned the goal of the investigative body is to investigate the circumstances of the cases of death. We have numerously ordered investigation of the cases of gunshots, use of violence, use of arms, explosives. We are also conducting operative search to identify the culprits, etc. All these activities are in the scope of our attention and we are working hard to find and punish the culprits.
– Starting from the middle of the last year certain statesmen were arrested. What is the logic of these arrests and based on what these charges are pressed? Many consider these activities as imitation of “fight against corruption” by adding that the government has spoken about corruption within government but nothing was done to deter those. What are the criteria for the government to pick “victim-statesmen?” For instance, why was the head of the patrol police Margar Ohanyan arrested and the head of the social security fund Vazgen Khachikyan wasn’t? Isn’t this discrimination?
– Your question actually comprises several sub-points and assessment. Indeed, the criminal cases are launched and filed based on the criminal code. A person can be punished for the crime only in the event if the crime is proven based on the evidence of the crime commitment. Many people can say lots of things and make various statements but for law-enforcers the ground can only be the evidence. It’s much better to make statements, which are pleasant for the public opinion but it’s worth substantiating them as well. The word is a value that cannot be underestimated or luxuriously squandered. I think that we all – the media, statesmen should be more responsible for their statements. They should think whether they have enough grounds to accuse somebody or whether they are authorized to make a public statement as a statesman or whether they can accuse anybody without clear grounds. There were cases of abuse in the distribution of fuel in the patrol police and based on the acquired proofs and evidence charges were brought and the cases are being currently heard by the court. As of your question about the cases of abuse in the social security fund then I should say that we have also conducted inspections in the ministry of finances by the department of financial inspection. The results of these inspections have also been sent to the investigative department of the RA police in order to examine the case and understand the level of crime and its truthfulness. The circle of people included in the abuse is pretty broad and the limitation of spreading information is currently necessary for the sake of the completion of the case and keeping the principle of secrecy. This needs to be done for an objective investigation. Perhaps you are aware that the cases of 11 people were sent to the court trial.
– Last year a number of criminal attacks occurred to current and former statesmen and their houses were robbed. You labeled these crimes “bandit attacks.” Then the well-known arrests were followed but it seems that these cases have been forgotten. The society, in particular, didn’t receive any information whether there were any covert organizers behind these cases. There is an opinion that these organizers might be former police officers. What is the status of these cases and why they haven’t fully been exposed?
– I have ordered to examine all the armed assaults of the capital city. They had a lot in common and those had all the traits of bandit assaults. I have ordered to investigate all these crimes under one case. As a result of operative actions of the police and the search we were able to disarm a gang, which was planning another robbery on that very day of arrest. At this point 6 members of the gang are under preliminary custody. The investigation is still pending to reveal the rest of the matters linked to the case. I think it’s premature to publicize any more of the information we have in our hands and the case details are currently kept classified. The time will come for that as well. Trust me, there is sufficient evidence that the 4 robbery cases were organized by the 4 members of this gang. No crime can be forgotten. I think the mass media outlets won’t let this happen either.
– Only during the first two months of the current year there have been 8 cases of murder or suicide in the Armenian army. Last year, as well, there were numerous such cases. Even in the cases when the culprits were punished they didn’t receive the punishment they deserved. In your opinion, what’s the way of precluding this fallacious phenomenon?
– The state is responsible for the soldier and his health. The parents trust their children to the state and we should be able to justify their trust and expectations, be able to return them home alive and healthy. At any rate, sometimes the military bases of Armenia go through certain incidents, which sometimes turn out to be heavy crimes and felonies and cause the death of soldiers. Essential steps are undertaken to prevent these phenomena in the army in order to exclude the cases of death. I don’t agree that the culprits do not receive appropriate punishment. On the contrary, the punitive policy has been very restricted. I agree that even a single complaining parent is already a big pain. We should work with them in a way to gain their trust in relation to the investigation. Sometimes the cause of such a complaint is not connected to the process of investigation but the behavior of investigators or prosecutors, who don’t bother to listen to opinions and explain the grounds of their decisions.
– Almost all the parents, who lost children, complain of the judicial system by insisting that the murders of their children are disclosed as suicides. That way they are trying to patronage and hide the actual culprits. What can you say about that?
– The prosecutor’s office employs people, who have families, children and no Armenian parent will ever allow somebody, who killed a son, hide or keep him away from the judicial punishment. The military prosecutor works publicly, holds office hours by enabling the parents and journalists ask questions. And this working style will continue in the future as well.
– In its 2011 report the Helsinki Committee of Armenia stated that the cases of violence and bad treatment are seen in the police. According to the authors of the report, the mistreatment is mostly done with a fist, by a kick as well as rubber clubs. The officers use water-full bottles, wooden sticks, the purpose of which is to get self-confession from suspects and witnesses. And not only has this report proved such violent attempts. What steps are taken in that direction?
– Not always does the officially announced statement express the reality. Nowadays it has become common to take self-defense statements made by the accused ones as a real true. There is an impression that during the criminal trial only the accused ones have rights and the others should protect those rights and acquit them. Of course, the violation is unacceptable in any cases and the evidence given in such a way may not have any evidential sense. These statements become a matter of legal proceedings as it is stipulated by the law. Unfortunately, in practice we witnessed such cases when during the pre-investigation the accused or suspected ones were severely beaten in order to get testimony. I also want to remind you that the victims as well participate in the same criminal trials. They have lost their relatives or have been attacked, they have become victims of this or that crime, and they as well have their rights; however they are likely to become victims for the second time. At least sometimes don’t forget about the victims’ rights.
– Your name as well is being circulated in regards to the upcoming Parliamentary elections. According to some rumors, not only is your brother, head of the Achapnyak administrative district Ruben Hovsepyan going to run as a majoritarian candidate, You will also support the other majoritarian candidates. Do these rumors correspond to the reality?
– As a senior Prosecutor of the RA I will pursue that all the programs devoted to the election violations, as well as alarms become a matter of investigation as it is stipulated by the law. Those who have committed crimes will be subjected to criminal liability. And as a citizen I will use my constitutional right and will participate in the elections like the other RA citizens. What about my brother, whose candidacy is still being discussed? Let me remind you that he had been elected head of the municipality by a majority of votes. His voters will continue to support him.