Witness in Trial Investigating Army Officer’s Death Contradicts Earlier Testimony

The trial in the case of rifle platoon commander Artak Nazaryan, who died suddenly while serving during peacetime on Jul. 27, 2010, took place at the Court of First Instance of Shengavit Community of Yerevan today. Artak’s mother, Hasmik Hovhannisyan, was to have continued her testimony in court yesterday; however, she was again unable to continue and asked that power assigned to the victim’s legal successor in court be passed on to her daughter, Tsovinar Nazaryan.

Nazaryan asked for 2 days to continue the testimony. Judge Samvel Mardanyan at first didn’t agree; however, attorney Mushegh Shushanyan intervened and made a motion which the court sustained. Shushanyan motioned to change the order of testimonies and to hear the victim’s legal successor’s testimony after witness testimonies.

As reported by the Epress.am correspondent on the scene, testifying in court today was witness and unit commander Gagik Udumyan, to whom several questions were directed also by Artak’s sister.

Speaking to Epress.am, Tsovinar Nazaryan said that Udumyan’s testimony in court contradicted his earlier testimony during the investigation — he now says there wasn’t cursing between him and Artak, while he earlier confessed to offending Artak and, in turn, Artak offended him and this took place on Jul. 26, the day before the incident. Today Udumyan denied that any such exchange took place.

“The contradictions are so many… For example, showing the bruise. He described it completely differently in his testimony during the preliminary investigation — from my questions it was clear. He said, Nazaryan told me that I have a problem with Manukyan and the bruise on his arm is the reason. Then, supposedly, Artak said that Adibek Hovhannisyan did it — as a joke. Adibek Hovhannisyan is an accused in this case. Later he called Udumyan and said that he fell. It’s absurd, how can one take you to the trench and say, here let me show you my bruise and then say it was a joke,” said Tsovinar Nazaryan.

In connection with another issue, Udumyan said that he knew about this from the military police. “It’s very interesting, that it’s possible that all these versions and tales were born in the military police, then served to the witnesses, and the witnesses are presenting them like they’re the truth,” she said.

At this point, the trial continues.