CIVILIAN ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC MACHINE IDENTIFIED

A1+
[07:46 pm] 14 January, 2009

The Special Investigate Service (SIS) looking into the events of
March 1 has identified the civilian arming himself with an automatic
machine in the presence of servicemen seen in the opposition’s film.

"On March 1 the driver of a military unit N of the Defence Ministry
Andreasyan was involved in the shift of police forces with his
car. Andreasyan doesn’t have a government-issue weapon. The automatic
machine belonged to a senior police officer who later took it back,Â"
SIS Head Vahagn Harutyunyan informed A1+ today.

The disputed automatic machine wasn’t used on March 1, and no shot
was fired from it.

Let’s remind that in the video material Andreasyan carries an
automatic machine under a leather jacket. Under army regulations
weapons are received and returned with a signed statement. Besides,
hardly anyone would have thought of leaving his weapon with a driver
on such a tense day in order to "do his business."

Asked how the driver appeared on the scene at that hour of the day
when a state of emergency wasn’t imposed in the capital and whether
the driver didn’t aim to incite provocation, Vahagn Harutyunyan said:
"The Special Investigate Service possesses no information of alleged
provocateur. If someone knows anything about them they are welcome to
contact us instead of making unfounded statements. Yes, Andreasyan
was in front of the government building on that day with some other
drivers who transported policemen."

Vahagn Harutyunyan also noted that the police forces were called to
keep public order and police the government building on March 1. The
Ministry of Defence helped them realise transportation by providing
them with cars and drivers. The drivers carried out the instructions
of the Police. Vahagn Harutyunyan also stated that Andreasyan wasn’t
seen on the scene of mass disorder. The SIS Head says all forces at the
government building represented different departments of the RA Police.

It is due to mention that during the tragic events of March 1-2 one
could see servicemen dressed in uniforms of the Defence Ministry and
students of military school after Varzgen Sargsyan in the capital
streets.

In reply to our question whether the SIS has identified the masked
people firing point-blank in the direction of Mashtots Avenue, Vahagn
Harutyunyan said: "Those are not masks. The people you mentioned are
wearing helmets which are parts of uniforms of interior troops. That’s
to say you have seen policemen who shot blank cartridges."

Remind that at least ten died because of those blank cartridges on
March 1.

Asked whether only law enforcement agencies were involved in the
March 1 events, Vahagn Harutyunyan said: "Yes, sure." When reminded
about Ter-Petrosyan’s statement that the bodyguards of оligarchs
were also recruited on that day, Harutyunayn said: "I don’t possess
such information." Then he added that still in December 2008 they had
requested the fact-finding group to forward them any information they
had on March 1 but "so far they have sent no news."

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