Epress.am News from Armenia
Criminal proceedings might be filed against writer Hovhannes Ishkhanyan, who on Mar. 22 was once again called in for questioning by police about his book “The Day of Discharge.”
Ishkhanyan informed Epress.am that a few weeks ago he was called in for questioning by the military police, who asked him to give a written explanation regarding certain excerpts of the book, especially those related to the military, and tell them to what extent this work of fiction corresponds to real-life events.
The writer replied that his work is a work of art and all the characters and events described are works of fiction. Ishkhanyan was forced respond to the same questions at the central police division on Thursday.
“Judging by their questions and their mood, they see in my book an insult to the army, an insult to the image of the mother, but since there aren’t any criminal laws against this, they’re trying to bring a case against me under the pornography clause, which refers only to visual arts. From what I understand, they want to launch a criminal case [against me],” he said.
The Armenian police’s press department informed Epress.am that the case is currently under review and is being examined also by the Ministry of Culture. Only after all this will the police decide whether to launch criminal proceedings or not.
The 178-page novel “The Day of Discharge” published in 2011 in 300 copies and valued at 1,500 drams (about $4 USD), according to police, contains “sexual relations of a vulgar nature which are described with the use of gross profanities and statements.”
Updated 1:52 pm: Translation of title of novel changed from “The Day of Dismissal” to “The Day of Discharge”.