Protest over killed conscript's death averted; family returning to village (update 6, photos)

The father of Luxe Stepanyan, the Armenian army private reported killed earlier this week, is heading to Yerevan with the coffin carrying his son’s body to hold a protest in front of the Government.

Ashkharhik Stepanyan, a resident of the Verin Getashen village (Martuni region), says he has taken such a decision to voice his anger against what he considers an unjust murder.

Relatives of the servicemen speaking to Tert.am said they are angry particularly because they are aware Stepanyan had no guilt in the incident which caused his death.

Stepanyan, 19, was shot on the head by a fellow servicemen on Wednesday afternoon and died shortly after, said a report released by the Ministry of Defense a day later.

Another private, Hrachya Sargsyan, was severely wounded in the gunshot and rushed to hospital, reported the Ministry.

The killed serviceman’s father told our correspondent that the family seeks to have the all the circumstances fully resolved.

“I don’t what happened to my son,” he said. “I hear something from those in the military unit, and completely different things on my way and in the village.”

Stepanyan added the police have tried several times tried to stop them on the way to Yerevan.

 

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12:49

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, told Tert.am, that Minister Seyran Ohanyan is now on his way to the Sevan-Yerevan highway, to meet the protesting family of the deceased soldier.

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13:06

Tert.am learned minutes ago that the minister is now on the scene.

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13.12

Chief of Armenian Police Vladimir Gasparyan is also reported to be on the scene.

An employee of the Verin Getashen village administration told Tert.am the crowd may return to Martuni in case the competent bodies give them proper information on the circumstances of the murder. She said doctors have rushed to the scene for medical aid to Stepanyan's mother whose condition suddenly deteriorated. 

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Sources from the scene have told Tert.am that Minister Ohanyan is now talking to the killed soldier's parents.

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Tert.am learned minutes ago that after negotiations with the minister and the police chief, the family decided to go back to the village. 
 

The body of the deceased has been moved to a car. The family has been given guarantees of a fair proceeding. 
 

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14:47

An employee of the Verin Getashen village administration has said that Stepanyan's family are now on their way back to the village. Asked whether it was easy to persuade the crowd, the source said they had no other choice.



 Photos from the Diana Bostanjyan's Facebook profile