Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian Greco-Roman wrestler, three-time European Champion, and Olympic bronze medalist Artur Aleksanyan (pictured) neither confirms nor denies the news that he was attacked by Shirak Police Chief Vardan Nadaryan. In conversation with Epress.am today, the athlete said he does not intend to provide any comments on this topic.
"Until this moment, I have not given an interview to anyone — and I don't intend to," he said.
Asked whether he gave an interview to Slaq.am in which he denies the incident, Aleksanyan again insisted that he spoke to no news media on this topic. "I've received a lot of calls on this matter, but I haven't responded to anyone," he said.
According to iLur.am, Aleksanyan, driving on the way home from training with his brother Rafael (also a wrestler) heard a horn. Aleksanyan thought the driver wanted him to give way, so he moved over to the right. When the car behind drove up alongside Aleksanyan's Mercedes, the man sitting in the passenger seat honked the horn. "Are you good boys? Why don't you drive off to the right?" When Aleksanyan stopped the vehicle and disembarked with his brother, they were confronted by Police Colonel Nadaryan, who was drunk.
"You're good boys, eh? Now we go to the station — I'll make good boys out of you," said Nadaryan, hitting Rafael with the butt of his gun, which he removed from its holster. He then pulled the trigger and held the gun to Artur's chest, saying, "If you're such a good boy, you'll come to the station and we'll talk." When the driver warned the police chief that the man before him is "our champion," Nadaryan for a moment was confused, then quickly got in the car and drove away.
Later, Slaq.am reported that Aleksanyan, in conversation with Slaq.am, said: "The reports circulating in the media are completely untrue."
Photo credit: My Gyumri