EDITOR OF "ZHAMANAK" WAS ARRESTED
A1+
[07:55 pm] 26 June, 2006
"They came after Arman Babajanyan, editor-in-chief of newspaper
"Zhamanak Yerevan" as though they had come to arrest an old
offender. Two people knocked at the door making sure it was the
editorial office, 7-8 people raided into the office and without
introducing themselves and informing where they were taking the
editor took him in an unknown direction", tells Manouk Souqiasyan,
director of newspaper "Zhamanak Yerevan".
Later on they would find out that Arman Babajanyan was taken to the
Prosecutor’s office to be examined in connection with a criminal
case. Then it would become clear that a criminal case was brought
against Babajanyan himself for fabricating documents and avoiding
military service since 2002.
Lisa Chakharyan, deputy editor of the newspaper, noted that this was
an act of terror against the newspaper aimed at warning the other Mass
Media. She drew parallels between the incident and the period when
"A1+" was banned from air. "’A1+’ was persecuted in the pre-election
period when there was tension. Now we are in a pre-election period
again, and there is tension over the Karabakh conflict; thus they
want to warn others by our example."
As for the accusation, the editorial office informed that Arman
Babajanyan came to Armenia many times after 2002 but as far as he
did not publish any newspaper back then, he was never troubled by
military affairs.
"Arman will become a PHD soon. He studied in international universities
and always kept in touch with the military registration office",
Manouk Souqiasyan informed.
By the way, Artak Babajanyan, Arman’s brother was summoned to the
Prosecutor’s office too but decided to participate in the press
conference instead.
Nevertheless, a few hours prior to the conference his mobile phone
ceased to answer the calls. The staff of the newspaper is sure the
he was arrested too.
We learned from the press secretary of the Prosecutor’s Office that
they received the materials from the Military Police. On this ground
a criminal case was initiated according to the second point of the
second part of the article 327 of the Criminal Code – fabrication of
documents and avoidance of military service.
Arman Babajanyan was examined as a suspect and confessed that he really
fabricated documents in order to avoid military service. After that
he was arrested.
Asked what is the possible punishment in this case we were answered
in the Prosecutor’s office, "He will be taken to the army".