REGULAR ATTACK ON A JOURNALIST
Arthur Hovhannisyan
Hayoc Ashkharh
Tuesday 18 September 2007
On September 15 at around 7.00 p.m. editor-in-chief of former "Iravunk"
(right) and present "Iskakan Iravunk" (real right) newspaper Hovhannes
Galajyan was over again subjected to a cruel violence and attack.
The following information is placed in the official website of the
police regarding the before mentioned incident.
"On September 15, at 7.20 p.m. the Central Department of the police
received an alarm call from an unknown person, informing that the
editor-in-chief of "Iskakan Iravunk" newspaper located in Khanjyan
19/a Hovhannes Galajyan, born in 1963, has been severely beaten by
two unknowns."
Hovhannes Galajyan who has been taken to "St Grigor Lusavorich"
hospital reported to the operative group that the same day at around
1.00 p.m. he has been severely beaten by two unknowns with iron
cudgels. H. Galajyan was given a pass from the forensic doctor. The
circumstances are in clarification process. Investigation is on."
First of all we should underscore that according to Hovhannes Galajyan
(and not only) in fact the attack took place not at around 1.00
p.m. but 7.00 p.m. Hardly would Galajyan give wrong information
regarding the time of the attack, especially 6 hour’s difference.
Consequently, the only thing that rests with us to assume is that
the slip-up in the time of the assault is the manifestation of the
negligence of the police but this is not essential.
One year and 9 days before the assault of September 15, on September 6,
2006, at around 10.00 a.m. after leaving home H. Galajyan was subjected
to violence by two unknowns.
Unfortunately, by now, Arabkir department of the police hasn’t
disclosed the before mentioned crime. Whereas we are almost sure
that had they revealed and punished those who ordered and committed
the crime, thus they would have prevented the bloodshed of September
15, 2007.
Yesterday when we visited "St Grigor Lusavorich" hospital, H.
Galajyan has been just shifted from the intensive care department to
the neuro-surgical. His head was bandaged and he was taking intravenous
feeding. We asked him to tell us about the assault as much as he could.
" I was in the editorial office up to 7.00 p.m. In the morning someone
called me, introduced himself as certain Manuk, a correspondent of
"Azg" newspaper. He called me home in the morning and I invited
him to the editorial office. In the afternoon he failed to find the
editorial office. At around 6.45 p.m. he called again and we arranged
to meet at 7.00 not far from the editorial office, near the building
of the football federation. I decided to go down, because I needed
cigarettes. At that time I was alone in the office.
Later my colleagues told me that there is a journalist by the name
Manuk, who writes articles on economic issues for "Azg" newspaper
and he also works in the radio station. But I’m not sure whether he
was the one who called.
When I was going down the steps, between the 4th and 5th floors a
young, tall man, around 30, with short fair hair and a cap (with a
sportswear and a sport backpack) said hello. I didn’t even manage
to respond to his hello. He immediately hit me on my head with his
cudgel. I managed to knock him down, pinioned his arms, and was trying
to take his cudgel.
It was cold and I understood that it was an iron cudgel. At that moment
the second one appeared and started to hit on my head and other parts
of my body with the cudgel. At that moment I was on the floor with the
first one. I only noticed that the second one was shorter. My hands
grew weak and I left the first one. I think the first one gave stronger
strokes. During this period no bad language and no demands were heard."
Later according to Galajyan the unknowns kicked him and left. With
great difficulties Galajyan managed to stand and go to the 7th floor,
to the editorial office. He was going to faint, but anyway he managed
to call Hayk Babukhanyan by the local phone. After some time the guard
went upstairs because of the noise. They called the ambulance. In
10-15 minutes Babukhanyan came and called the police.
According to H. Galajyan, they haven’t published any article in the
newspaper during the recent days that could have served as a reason
for this crime.
"I can only suspect that the assault has been committed by the same
group. I think this assault and the one that happened last year this
time are linked with each other."
Though both Galajyan and the guards are ready to give photo-robots
of the attackers, this job was not done as of 3.00 p.m. yesterday.
This means either there is a lack of portable and mobile equipment to
take it to the hospital and take the photo-robots, or the activity
of the police leaves much to be desired. Whereas it is senseless to
explain the police that it is very important to disclose the crime
when it is fresh.
According to Galajyan the assault was aimed at not killing him but
making him useless for the coming months. Six injuries were inflicted
on his head. The police have evaluated the injuries of minor gravity
(before the conclusion of the forensic doctor.).
A criminal case has been instituted, according to the 1st part of
article 113 of the Criminal Code.