Epress.am News from Armenia
No arrests have yet been made in the criminal investigation launched last September into the case of Hovhannes (Hovik) Vardanyan, the 19-year-old soldier who became mentally ill after serving over a year of his two-year military service in Askeran, Nagorno-Karabakh, Hovhannes’ father, Vardan Vardanyan, told Epress.am today.
“Four days ago, two investigators came from Karabakh regarding Hovik’s case (I don’t remember their surnames), Hayk and Nver — they took Hovik for a [medical] examination at the Nork psychiatric clinic. I had come out of the room; they asked me questions; then the doctors examined him,” Vardan described.
Hovik’s father said he spoke with investigators yesterday, wanting to find out how the investigation is going. “They told me the investigation is underway — they’re looking for the guilty. I asked why is it taking so long, was it not possible to find any suspects or guilty individuals during these months? They said don’t get upset; we’re looking; we’re not sleeping. We have 2,500 soldiers — we’re questioning them all in turn. And I said that’s your job; what I need is for the guilty to be punished and as soon as possible,” he said.
Asked by investigators if Hovhannes has perhaps given any names of the guilty, his father said, “you ask; if he remembers, let him tell you.” However, he added that Hovhannes hasn’t been naming any names since his memory is weak and instead always talks about aliens and celestial forces.
“They scared my son so much that he is terrified of speaking about the incident. Sometimes he says that they sat in some car and that’s all. I myself am very careful; I don’t want to suddenly involve some innocent person in this case with my remarks. Nevertheless, I have said however I gave my son is how I want him back,” he said.
Vardan Vardanyan mentioned that Hovhannes is getting treated at the psychiatric clinic in Yerevan’s Avan district and doctors say he will need two more years of treatment.