Volodya Galoyan, born in 2000, was killed in the Hadrut military unit of the Artsakh Republic during his military service in July. From the very first day his death was reported as a suicide committed by the soldier after disputing with Captain Roland Stepanyan and firing at him. Allegedly, as a result of the incident, Galoyan went to a neutral zone and committed suicide.
In our previous publication, entitled “The soldier was killed, his body was taken away, put in a neutral zone”, relying solely on the facts, we have proved that investigators were conducting a false investigation, attempting to present Galoyan’s murder as a suicide.
In particular, it was stated in the publication that forensic medical examination revealed 22 bodily injuries on the body of Volodya Galoyan, while a specialist who carried out an external examination of the body reported only one injury that the head of the Second Garrison Military Prosecutor’s Office M.F. Shirvanyan did not ask the expert how many shots Galoyan had been killed that investigators allegedly found Galoyan’s body in a neutral zone, wrapped in a bodyguard, with a rifle beside him, but no blood was found around him. that a forensic weapon examination was not carried out, which they were obliged to do, to determine from which weapon Galoyan was killed, and so on.
Particularly, it was stated in the publication that forensic medical examination revealed 22 bodily injuries on the body of Volodya Galoyan, while the specialist who carried out the external examination of the body reported only one injury; that the head of the Second Garrison Military Prosecutor’s Office M. Shirvanyan did not ask the expert how many shots were fired at Galoyan; that investigators allegedly found Galoyan’s body in a neutral zone, wrapped in a tent-cloak, with his rifle beside him, but no blood was found around him; that no forensic weapon examination was carried out, which they were obliged to do, to determine from which weapon Galoyan was killed, and so on.
We expected that after the publication, the body of inquiry would review its practice, reject the suicide hypothesis and launch an objective investigation, and the Investigative Committee and the Military Prosecutor’s Office would pay attention to this outrageous counter-investigation. Instead, the Investigative Committee issued a clarification today, seeking to refute the information we have revealed.
We expected that, after the publication, the preliminary investigative body would review its practice, reject the suicide hypothesis and launch an objective investigation, and the Investigative Committee and the Military Prosecutor’s Office would pay attention to this outrageous counter-investigation. Instead, the Investigative Committee issued a clarification today, seeking to refute the information we have reported.
“According to the forensic examination of V. Galoyan’s corpse, V. Galoyan’s death was the result of grievous bodily injuries incompatible with his life, which was caused by gunshot and bullet-wound injuries to his head, and his death occurred shortly after receiving a gunshot wounds. During the forensic examination of V. Galoyan’s body, besides gunshot wounds, 3 scratches and 1 wound were found which are not characteristic of gunshot wounds, 2 of them were about 2-3 days old, and the other 2 were from hours to one day old. The other injuries are typical of gunshot wounds,” the Investigative Committee informed.
We continue to assert that according to forensic report 0956/12, 22 injuries were found on the body of soldier Volodya Galoyan. The Investigative Committee did not investigate them, did not find out who and why had beaten the young man before his death and then took his body and dumped it in a neutral zone.
Human rights activist Ruben Martirosyan, who studied the above-mentioned document, listed the injuries according to the text of the report.
“The forensic examination of V. Galoyan’s body revealed subcutaneous tissue defects and numerous wounds that were caused by the impact of blunt objects.”
“Only the body parts listed are larger than the four injuries which the Investigative Committee notes in its clarification. In fact, Galoyan had injuries to his forehead, chest, arms, forearm, right finger, right thigh, cheek and, in some parts, there were double injuries. I continue to insist that a deceiptive investigation is being conducted in the case of Galoyan, that, for unknown reasons, all the witnesses gave false testimonies, as 22 injuries from one slap do not occur,” says the criminologist.
“This is the first time in my 24 years of practice that the investigator has not asked the expert whether Galoyan died as a result of one, or several shots. Either Mr. Shirvanyan, the Chief of the Second Garrison Investigation, does not correspond to the position he occupies, or the Investigative Committee has falsified the findings of the expert opinion No. 0956/12. There are two firearm wounds, that is, Galoyan was killed as a result of at least two shots, this is a fact,” concludes Ruben Martirosyan.
P.S. We are absolutely convinced that the aforementioned Investigative Unit cannot continue to pursue this case, and we urge the Investigative Committee to respond to the question about how many shots were fired at Volodya Galoyan.
Syuzan Simonyan