The pretrial investigation body has changed the measure of restraint against Syunik governor Suren Khachatryan's son Tigran Khachatryan, who was arrested for beating the Zakaryan brothers in Sdghi Gyol.
The defendant's lawyer Armen Melkonyan has told ArmInfo that due to the new circumstances revealed in the case, the pre-trial investigation body has changed the measure of restraint against Tigran Khachatryan and the latter will shortly be set free. Moreover, the pre-trial investigation body has chosen no new measure of restraint because Khachatryan "is not guilty", the lawyer said. "The innocent man has been in custody for such a long time. Why should they use a new measure of restraint against him?" Melkonyan said with indignation, hinting at the fact that the measure of restraint was revised following changes in the aggrieved party's evidence.
In the meantime, Gagik Zakaryan, the father of the Zakaryan brothers, has told ArmInfo that they have not changed their evidence. "Everyone should be responsible for their deeds. We have simply be told the investigation has found out that it was another participant in the incident, not Tigran Khachatryan, who hit my son Harutyun in the eye. But this does not mean that Tigran took no part in the scuffle. He should also be brought to responsibility because he is also guilty," says Zakaryan.
To note, on May 2 Tigran Khachatryan inflicted grave bodily injuries to Armenian citizen Harutyun Zakaryan in a scuffle that took place near the Sdghi gyol site in the vicinity of Goris. Harutyun Zakaryan lost his eye. Syunik province governor Suren Khachatryan's brother and nephew were also arrested.
This is not the first incident that involves the Syunik governor's relatives. Their names have been mentioned in various criminal scandals including rapes, murders, beatings and kidnappings. Tigran Khachatryan was also targeted in the investigation of the murder of Avetik Budaghyan, however, the case was dismissed in the absence of evidence.