Armenian Public TV
Oct 27 2008

Armenian chief prosecutor says recent killing in capital "vendetta" – TV

[Presenter] A vendetta on Komitas Avenue [in Yerevan], this is the
theory of Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepyan. Unidentified persons
fired from an automatic firing gun and a pistol at a Niva car
yesterday in the yard of 48a, Komitas Avenue and killed 43-year-old
Hrachya Matevosyan and wounded 32-year-old Harutyun B., who was
transported to the Mikaelyan surgery institute. The prosecutor-general
of the republic said today that this case is a vendetta.

[Correspondent speaking over video of the crime scene] The murder
which took place in Komitas Avenue is the continuation of the murder
of another leader of the Union of Hunters, Sayat Davtyan, in November
last year. There is evidence that yesterday’s murder was committed out
of revenge, the prosecutor-general of the republic said today.

[Aghvan Hovsepyan, speaking to journalists] I regret that we still
cannot eliminate elements of revenge form the minds of our people,
this is a trait of not only the Armenian people, many other people
have it as well as a national trait. An eye for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth, you know the law of vendetta.

[Correspondent] A few grave crimes were committed in the republic in
the past three days. Four people were killed in Spitak [town in
northern Lori Region] and a severe injury was inflicted. According to
Aghvan Hovsepyan, there is evidence, an investigation is under
way. According to preliminary information, money was the motive for
the murder.

[Hovsepyan] According to the latest available information, this
killing was motivated by financial issues, the so-called settling of
scores in the criminal world. The case has not been solved so far.

[Correspondent] There is a need to investigate and assess what
happened to the newly- elected mayor of Stepanavan [town in Lori
Region, who was also wounded in a shooting]. The investigation should
clarify whether the shooting was lawful within the boundaries of
necessary defence. The prosecutor-general of the republic believes
that the elimination of the death penalty has somehow contributed to
the increase in the number of grave crimes.

[Hovsepyan] Of course, I am not against the elimination of the death
penalty, I have always backed it and back it today, but this has also
shaped a specific mentality among people.

[Correspondent] Aghvan Hovsepyan also spoke about the establishment of
a fact-finding group to probe the 1 March case [post-election
disturbances]. His attitude to it is very good. Every prosecutors
dreams of fact-finding services, the prosecutor-general said.

[translated]