Committee looking for eyewitnesses
The Fact-finding Group leading an investigation into the events of March 1 is not working with the ad hoc parliamentary committee, informed "A1+" head of the March 1 parliamentary committee Samvel Nikoyan.
"I have said that the committee is open for cooperation, but I left it up to the group to take the initiative and unfortunately, they don't want to take it."
As for the work of the parliamentary committee, Nikolyan does not find the interim report necessary, but the committee is already thinking about a final report.
"The committee believes that it place more emphasis on political phenomena, as well as at the legal level. I believe that there is a need to precise the legality and proportion of police brutality on March 1," told "A1+" Samvel Nikoyan.
The committee did not hold any sessions for the past two weeks due to the committee head's absence. As for upcoming plans, Nikoyan said that the only thing left for the committee to do is to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deaths. Nikoyan had promised in advance to invite Chief of Police Hayk Harutyunyan to give clarifications. He refused to comment on whether when Mr. Harutyunyan would be invited.
In general, the committee head does not consider the recent work of the committee as productive. Let us recall that the relatives of the victims were called to give clarifications or ask questions to committee members. Nikoyan regrets to say that there has been no support from the society or the opposition leaders to keep in touch with witnesses.
"Let them at least tell us about the events in written form. Ten people can't just die without any eyewitnesses. I understand why they refrain from doing so, but this is not to the benefit of the case and we rely on the eyewitness accounts," said Samvel Nikoyan.
The committee does not wish to meet with one of the citizens who was run over by a car in front of the "8" supermarket on Paronyan Street on March 1. According to Nikoyan, "the preliminary investigative body has made it clear that there is no issue that remains unclear."
