Tried to conceal assault
Former military prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan says he is surprised that nobody at the Ministry of Defense "knew" that soldier Hovhannes Vardanyan was mentally ill before the video's release.
"The commander of the military unit was obliged to present that case to the police. The latter had to present a communiqué to the investigative department of the Ministry of Defense and the military prosecutor's office. It is clear that they tried to conceal the case, were forced to lead a rapid service investigation after the information was spread and announced that they had instigated a criminal case," HAK legal affairs coordinator, former military prosecutor Gagik Jhangiryan told "A1+".
In relation to the soldier's father Vardan Vardanyan's statements that his son was driven crazy, the military prosecutor's office today instigated a criminal case under Part 1, Article 375 of the RA Criminal Code, that is, "misuse of power, excess of power or inactivity."
The public found out that the soldier had gone crazy after watching a video clip posted online.
Judging from the video, the former military prosecutor noted that the assault was evident.
"The bruises on the boy were seen even a month later. If the boy had been recruited without any mental illness, one doesn't have to be Sherlock Holmes to see that that was an assault and the result of worse things that had happened," Gagik Jhangiryan mentioned.
"A1+" also asked Gagik Jhangiaryan if it was possible to instigate a criminal case and find out the attribute of the criminal case so quickly.
"Based on the releases regarding the assault against 20-year old Hovhannes Vardanyan, it even could have taken five minutes to instigate a criminal case," Gagik Jhangiryan said.
