“From Now On, Defend Hayk”: Shant Harutyunyan on Man Who Shot at Police

Detained political activist Shant Harutyunyan considers Hayk Kyureghyan's act "heroic," Shant Harutyunyan's son, Shahen Harutyunyan, wrote on his Facebook page.

"No longer defend me. From now on, defend Hayk, who made a heroic move and was arrested. He is charged with hooliganism and faces 4–7 years in prison," Shahen wrote, quoting his father. 

Recall, at the start of the first hearing in the case of Shant Harutyunyan and 13 other men arrested with him yesterday, Hayk Kyureghyan climbed onto a car outside the courthouse and shot rounds from what seemed to be an air pistol in the police's direction, attempting, he said, to prevent "an erroneous judgment on Shant."

Activists calling for the release of the men whom they deem political prisoners who were demonstrating outside the courthouse yesterday said they don't recognize Hayk. There was some speculation that he might be an agent provocateur.

Local daily Haykakan Zhamanak reported [AM] earlier today that the man known as Hayk studies at the State Engineering University of Armenia, where he is known as Areg.