The family members of soldier Arman Levonyan killed in the Mataghis military unit on September 28 have no information about the preliminary investigation. A murder was committed and a case was initiated by article of the Criminal Code (Article 104:1), but there are no suspects or charges. The captain of the position has been arrested on charges under Article 358:1 of the Criminal Code, “Committing or threatening to commit violent acts” (Part 3).
Traces of these “violent acts”, as we have already reported, have been found on various parts of the soldier’s body. His fingers and ribs were broken, his head was wounded. We had also noted that the Third Garrison Investigation Department dealing with the case did not provide the soldier’s family with the decisions regarding the case and the only document the injured party has is a forensic report.
Ashot Apresyan, a lawyer and representative of the victim, ensures the investigators have no shortcomings in the matter. He told Forrights.am: “The investigator has the right to make the decisions on forensic reports and conclusions, which have all been provided and I have them.”
We asked the lawyer a few questions, considering that he was well informed as he was in Artsakh, where the investigators work.
How do investigators explain these traces of the boy’s body?
By violence used. At the moment, we have one person in custody, who has testified to have committed violence. We also have one person who, as a precautionary measure, was handed over to the supervision of the military unit. But, regarding the total amount of violence perpetrated, the witnesses are not yet testifying at this point.
It’s been a long time, but nothing is known about the motives of the murder and the killer. Do I understand correctly?
All are assumptions: it’s murder, it’s suicide, or it’s an accident. At the moment, we have a criminal case on death. Currently, all the versions are being considered and studied. Anyway, no one has been charged with murder at this time. There are certain circumstances that give us, as an aggrieved party, the assumption that there are likely to be some doubts about several versions. According to the forensic report, the shooting took place from above, which makes one think.
But that means that suicide is excluded, doesn’t it?
No, don’t say so certainly.
Does it mean that you personally suspect that it may have been suicide?
No, come on, don’t say what I suspect. Since I am the victim party’s representative, I am inclined towards all versions of objective investigation.
But the victim’s legal successor, the boy’s family ruled out the suicide version.
Let me rule out too, in order not to contradict my clients, but please do not take what they say as a dogma. Do not even take what I say as a dogma. Forensic examinations are arranged. According to the investigator, the conclusion of the examination will be ready at the end of the month. After receiving this forensic conclusion, as the forensic report has determined that there were no additional shootings on the body, and, naturally, a person cannot inflict himself from a big distance, we are awaiting a complex forensic examination of clothing and weapons, which will show if there are additional factors or not, and only then we can determine the distance (from which the shot was fired). There are such injuries that need to be investigated thoroughly.
And what do the captain of the position and the other accused say, why did they use violence, insult the boy?
The person in custody says he did not touch that child even with a finger. We have a witness who was on duty along with the dead soldier. He is the only witness who says the captain used violence against him for sleeping in the position, but not to the extent to cause the injuries that the forensic doctor found.
According to the forensic report, the soldier’s fingers are broken, the ribs are injured, there is a wound in the head area. But can all these injuries appear from falling?
I am not an expert, I am a lawyer, and all the questions about what can cause injuries are given to a specialist with professional knowledge. I am also very eager for the objective truth to be revealed in this case.
The soldier’s father, Armen Levonyan, asked the investigator how his son’s injuries caused before his death could be explained, and the investigator’s response was similar to that of Levonyan’s lawyer. He said, “Maybe your son fell, his fingers broke.”
Syuzan Simonyan