THE MAYOR IS ACCUSED OF MURDER
Naira Mamikonian
Aravot (Morning), Armenia
Sept 27 2005
Economic and “pre-election” versions of the murder.
The mayor of New Hachn city of Kotayk region 1966 year born Armen
Keshishian fired 7 shots by his factory weapon of “Winking” MR-446
production 9mm caliber, 0244601675 series the director of Arzni branch
of “Power circuit” 1967 year born Ashot Mkhitarian in the crossroad
of Haroutiunian-Torozian streets of New Hachn city of Kotayk region
on Saturday, 24 of September at 10:20. A. Mkhitarian was sent to
the hospital of Abovian with body injuries where he died in half an
hour. The mayor is arrested, a criminal case is brought against him,
which carries on the prosecutory of Kotayk region. By the way the
weapon by which the murder was done is Andranik Margarian’s personal
present to the mayor A. Keshishian. Yesterday the press secretary of
the RA Prime Minister Marry Haroutiunian affirmed this fact. There
are two hypothesis round the incident one of which the assistant of
Eghvard prosecutor Albert Mkrtchian in his interview to “Azatutiun”
b/s. According to him the mayor with some of his officials tried to
prevent A. Mkhitarian’s illegal construction.
They began quarrel as the result and the mayor killed A. Mkhitarian.
According to the next hypothesis the quarrel between the killer and
killed person has had “pre-election” pretext. The point is that the
elections of Mayor will be held in New Hachn on 9 of November. The
current mayor Armen Keshishian and the member of the RA NA deputy
Manuk Gasparian’s party Babken Margarian have nominated their
candidacy. According to our information the killed Ashot Mkhitarian
also wanted to be nominated but he was “asked” not to nominate. A.
Mkhitarian had to not nominate but he assisted the mayor’s rival B.
Margarian round his possibilities what became the reason of the
quarrel with the mayor. By the way the chairman of Eghvard regional
committee Gnel Ghalumian in the interview to “Azatutiun” b/s. By his
words the killed A. Mkhitarian also wanted to nominate his candidacy
in the coming elections but then changed his mind. According to the
chairman Armen Keshishian might have a serious rival in that case and
“discrepancies between them began from that time”.
But other sources say that something came between A. Mkhitarian
and Armen Keshishian before the elections. According to one of the
inhabitants of New Hachn they were friends of childhood. And more
according to the inhabitants of the city A. Keshishian was elected as
a district ruler three years ago with A. Mkhitarian’s assistance. By
the way the latter was accused of the murder one of the citizens in
1990’s but it seemed it wasn’t proved. The relations between A.
Keshishian and A. Mkhitarian become strained and on the threshold
of the elections of Local self-governing when A. Mkhitarian didn’t
allowed to be nominated he began mocking at him everywhere. By other
sources he was simply criticizing the mayor for bad work. As regards
the coming elections of New Hachn mayor the current mayor A.
Keshishian can take part in it unless court decree is brought.
Irrespective of all hypothesizes a murder took place and the killer
must be punished.