Most Just Ruling in Artak Nazaryan Case Would be to Resume Investigation

The trial in the case of rifle platoon commander Artak Nazaryan, who died suddenly while serving during peacetime on Jul. 27, 2010, will now take place in Yerevan. The court sessions were previously held in the city of Berd in Tavush province.

Artak Nazaryan’s sister, Tsovinar Nazaryan, speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian service, said moving the trial from Tavush to Yerevan stems is in the interests of all parties, since before, due to the great distance, the court sessions essentially were a failure: three out of four court dates were postponed.

Recall, Artak Nazaryan’s official cause of death is suicide, which relatives are disputing. They say the 30-year-old lieutenant was murdered. Five accused have been named in the case.

Tsovinar Nazaryan, expressing distrust in the results of the investigation, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that the most just ruling in this case would be the decision to resume the investigation.

“Not only was the investigation not objective, but also much evidence was hidden and falsified — testimonies were falsified, which in the process, of course, we will prove,” she said.