A1+

WON’T GUNNERS BE DISCLOSED?
[07:06 pm] 13 February, 2009

The bullets of a Cheryomukha 7 over-sized, gas powered special device
can be identified, hence the murderers of at least three victims of
March 1 deadly clashes cannot be disclosed. Until recently, the
Special Investigation Service (SIS) and the Prosecutor General’s
Office claimed gas bullets found in the bodies of the victims couldn’t
be identified. Their opinion was supported by Russia’s experts who
said identification was impossible. The head of the SIS investigation
group looking into the March 1 events, Vahagn Harutyunyan, presented
Russia’s answer in the Armenian parliament today. Harutyunyan says
though the enquiry into the matter is still under way the chances to
identify the gunners are exhausted.

The Chairman of the NA ad hoc Committee looking into the events of
March 1-2, Samvel Nikoyan, read out the answer of the Chief of Police
regarding Cheryomukha 7: `Cheryomukha 7 gas cartridges were imported
to Armenia till 1990. The cartridges were last tested in 2007 during
an annual maneuver of the RA police forces.’

`In case of long preservation, the bullets of Cheryomukha 7 and
Cheryomukha 7-M can undergo technical changes accompanied with a
reduction of tear gas and distance of fired bullet. Such bullets are
not harmful to human beings,’ Nikoyan recalled Russia’s statement and
immediately raised a question, `Does it mean that the untested
cartridges were used during the maneuver?’