MEMBER OF RPA FACTION SURE THAT JUST LAW ENFORCERS MUST INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT IN GYUMRI
ArmInfo News Agency
2007-05-21 13:28:00
"Let law enforcers investigate the shootout in Gyumri. I have no
information to comment on the incident," Armen Ashotyan, a member of
the Republican Party of Armenia faction, said at "Hayatsk" Discussion
Club, Monday.
Asked if the shootout was a result of a conflict between two local
political parties, Armen Ashotyan said: "There is always political
envy. Let’s wait and see what the investigation will show."
As it was reported earlier, Spartak Ghukasyan, the son of Gyumri Mayor
Vardan Ghukasdyan, and Rustam Sargsyan, the son of Artashes Sargsyan,
the former head of Shirak Regional Administration Department for Town
Planning, participated in a shootout in the town of Gyumri at 8:15pm
on Sunday. A. Sargsyan was responsible for Prosperous Armenia party
in the 34th single-mandate district.
RFE/RL regional correspondent reports that the incident took place
in 10-15 metres from the store belonging to the Sargsyans. Law
enforcers surrounded the area at 9:00pm. The number of bullets found
on the spot exceeded 20. No one of the witnesses agreed to register
for giving testimonies as they feared for their safety. The Hummer
belonging to the son of Gyumri Mayor and another car were hounding
Rustam Sargsyan’s Jeep and the cross fire started. A young man at
the age of 29 was wounded in leg. His name is not made public in
the interests of investigation. The wounded underwent operation at
11:00pm. It is not known if he was just a passerby or a participant
in the incident. Shirak Regional Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a
criminal case. The cars disappeared from the place of the incident. A
Hummer was found in the area of the city bus station at 10:30pm
without numberplate and damaged with bullets, the source reports.
According to preliminary information, a few days ago, Spartak Ghukasyan
and Rustam Sargsyan had a conflict that could be for both personal and
political reasons. Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan heads Shirak Regional
Department of the Republican Party of Armenia, while Rustam Sargsyan’s
father is in the head of the regional office of the pro-governmental
Prosperous Armenia party. There is information that Rustam Sargsyan
was also wounded. However, this information has not been officially
confirmed so far.