The Commission in charge of investigating the events of March 1 has started working again after keeping silence for about one month. During the session Samvel Nikoyan, the head of the commission, read the expertise conclusion concerning Cheryomukha 7 model gas pistol. The mentioned expertise conclusion was sent to the commission by the Russian General Prosecutor’s office.
To note, the letter sent to the Russian Police concerning identification possibilities of the mentioned pistol, which was taken to Moscow by Aram Karapetyan, has become one of the most popular topics of discussion in the recent period. Aram Karapetyan does not say whether he has received any answer to that letter, and the commission alleges that they are still waiting for the document to be sent to them by fax. Thus, the commission has found a solution and decided to publish the document, which was sent to them by the Russian general Prosecutor’s office.
It is worth mentioning that as a result of official expertise within the scope of the investigation of March 1 events it became clear that the mentioned weapon model used during the events of March 1 was out of the keeping time and if used properly it would not result in death. According to the information of the general prosecutor’s office, 3 people were killed by Cheryomukha 7 model pistol during the events of March 1. In one of the questions submitted to the Russian police it becomes clear that Armenia imported Cheryomukha 7 model pistols from Russia in 1986 and 1989, which had to be destroyed long before because they are out of term.
According to the document provided by the mentioned Russian institute, a person named Harutyunyan representing the Armenian prosecutor’s office asked them several questions, the answers of which have been sent to the prosecutor’s office of Armenia. In answer to Harutyunyan’s question concerning the term of keeping of the mentioned weapons and whether such bullets produced in 1986 and 1989 could be used the Russian party answered the following: “According to the technical data approved in 1976, the maximum term for keeping gas bullets of Cheryomukha 7 pistols is five years. According to the technical data approved in 1988, the bullets of Cheryomukha 7M model pistols can be kept for more five years. It is possible to determine whether the bullets of Cheryomukha 7 and Cheryomukha 7M could be used only after a commission expertise. If expertise shows that bullets are subject to use in compliance with corresponding technical requirements, such bullets can be considered useful for corresponding purposes, and if not, such bullets should be destroyed.” Samvel Nikoyan says that the difference between Cheryomukha 7 and Cheryomukha 7M models is that the term of producing gas for the first model is 4-6 seconds, and the second one – 10 seconds. “Cheryomukha 7 starts producing gas in one second after shooting, and Cheryomukha 7M – in 10 seconds after shooting,” said Samvel Nikoyan.
Harutyunyan also asked the Russian experts whether it is possible to use the mentioned bullets if they are out of time, in consideration of the health conditions of people and danger to the people. To this question the Russian experts gave the following answer: “If the bullets of Cheryomukha 7 and Cheryomukha 7M are out of time, their technical qualifications may change and the level of affect may be less. Cheryomukha 7 and Cheryomukha 7M bullets, which are out of time, will not be dangerous to people’s health and life.” The next question is whether it is allowed to use Cheryomukha model bullets in open air and if not, which the specific conditions of use are. The answer to this question is the following: “It is not forbidden to use Cheryomukha 7 model gas bullets in open air. It is forbidden to shoot directly at people. The shooting shall be targeted at the surrounding areas or objects near the criminals, at the same time the direction of the gas clouds and wind should be taken into account as well.” In answer to a question whether it is possible that the identification of Cheryomukha bullets may fit with other guns and to shoot such bullets from other guns, to which the Russian experts answered that they are not authorized to make shooting expertise and petitioned Harutyunyan to apply to the Russian expertise center with the mentioned issue. In fact this is the point why they decided to write such letters, i.e. get an answer from the Russian experts that they cannot answer the question concerning identification. We wander whether it is possible that the deputy minister of the Russian police might have found out that answer from the expertise center before answering to Karapetyan’s letter, and due to that reason they don’t publish that information.
The commission members asked how three people were killed if the experts pledge that using such bullets out of time is not dangerous for health and cannot kill. Samvel Nikoyan tried to explain it and said, “There is no contradiction. The purpose of Cheryomukha 7 is producing gas if it is used as applicable. Thus, if it is out of term, it is not dangerous for life because it will not produce gas.” The leader of New Times party, member of the commission Aram Karapetyan interrupted and said, “It did not produce gas, they shoot at the heads of people and they died. They directly targeted at people’s heads. They did not die because of gas, Mr. Nikoyan, the bullet is in the head.” In answer Samvel Nikoyan said, “This is what I am saying, why are you interrupting me?”