Parents protesting against murder of serviceman attempt to break into Government building

 A group of people have gathered in front of the government building to protest against the murder of serviceman Luks Stepanyan.

His parents tried today to bring his body from Verin Vernashen to Yerevan and to put it in front of the Government building.

The protesters insisted on a meeting with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and even attempted to break into the Government building but the police prevented the attempt and began patrolling the building.

Chief of the Yerevan Police Ashot Karapetyan spoke with some of the protesters. They said that they would like to meet with Military prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan. Meanwhile, public activist Vardges Gaspari was running round the building and yelling "Serzhik is Murderer!"

To remind, on May 15 at 3:30pm, soldier David Khachatryan fired at Luks Stepanyan from his automated gun. Stepanyan died of the wound in the head. Another soldier Hrachya Sargsyan was hospitalized with gunshot wound in the head. He is currently at the reanimation department of the Central Clinical Hospital of the Defense Ministry. 

Earlier, father of the killed, resident of Verin Getashen, Gegharkunik Region, Ishkhan Stepanyan said that he intends to deliver the body of his son to the government building in Yerevan and demand explanations from the defense minister. Road Police and officers of the Defense Ministry of Armenia obstructed entry of a cortege
carrying body of the killed soldier Luks Stepanyan to Yerevan. The cortege stopped on Sevan- Yerevan highway and the relatives of the killed soldier squabbled with the police. As a result, the relatives and the villagers of the killed soldier damaged the police vehicle.

Head of the Military Police Samvel Ghoukassyan, Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and Police Head Vladimir Gasparyan have left to meet with the relatives of the killed Luks Stepanyan. Minister Ohanyan promised the relatives of the killed soldier that the tragedy will be thoroughly inquired into and all those guilty in it will be
published. The minister promised open investigation.

On the basis of the criminal case initiated over the incident, charges will be brought against David Khachatryan on Article 104.2 and Article 112.1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. In addition, a petition will be made to the court for Khachatryan's arrest. An action of protest is currently underway in front of the Government building.