Epress.am News from Armenia
The RA Special Investigative Service (SIS) has concluded its investigation into an incident involving entrepreneur Silva Hambardzumyan, who asserted that Syunik marzpet (regional governor) Suren (Surik) Khachatryan hit her in a Yerevan hotel on Nov. 14, reads a statement issued by the RA Special Investigative Service today. Recall, criminal proceedings were launched under battery charges (RA Criminal Code Article 118).
“During their dispute on Nov. 14, 2011, in the Armenia Marriott [Hotel] cafe, the marzpet hit (slapped) Silva Hambarzumyan once with his hand. This fact was based on evidence acquired during the investigation, including witness testimonies and video footage, which was seized and enclosed in the criminal case.
“According to Silva Hambardzumyan’s testimony, she didn’t receive bodily injuries from Surik Khachatryan’s slap and she refused a medical report, while Suren Khachatryan in his testimony said that he regrets what he did,” reads the statement.
The investigation determined that the pair had been on unfriendly terms for a long time and came to the conclusion that the marzpet’s actions did not constitute battery (a criminally punishable offense) per se. Thus, the SIS decided to dismiss the case.
Recall, on Nov. 10, Hambardzumyan charged that a mining company owned by Khachatryan misappropriated mining equipment worth more than 100 million drams ($265,000 USD) from a mine belonging to her. Later, in an interview with local daily Haykakan Jamanak, the entrepreneur said that Khachatryan, through intermediaries, promised to transfer his debt to her account by Dec. 15.