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President of Armenia’s Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan will not be held criminally liable for the incident related to CEO of the airline Air Armenia Arsen Avetisyan as the claimant did not lodge a complaint, the Office of Armenian Prosecutor General said in a statement today.

“As regards the incident between President of Armenia’s Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan and the co-owner of Air Armenia airline Arsen Avetisyan, a decision was taken not to open a criminal case or start criminal proceedings against R. Hayrapetyan under Article 35 part 1 point 4 (absence of a complaint by the claimant) of Criminal Procedure Code,” Prosecutor’s Office said.

Air Armenia’s CEO Arsen Avetisyan was taken a few days ago to Yerevan hospital No 1 with a broken nose and injuries. He said at first that he was beaten up by orders from Armenian Football Federation’s president Ruben Hayrapetyan. Materials on Arsen Avetisyan’s beating were filed to Investigative Committee of Armenia. Yet A. Avetisyan stated in an open letter on August 20 that he was prepared to accept a proposal for amicable settlement.

“The circumstances of an abduction and deprivation of liberty were denied and for that reason no criminal case was opened in the absence of a criminal event. At the same time the fact of use of force by R. Hayrapetyan against A. Avetisyan was proven, as a result of which light damage, or at most, moderate damage was caused to Avetisyan’s health. The circumstances of the confirmed incident are covered by Article 117 or Article 113 part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, according to which a criminal case may be opened under Article 183 of the Criminal Procedure Code only in case of a complaint filed by the claimant, which is absent in this case, i.e. there are circumstances that exclude the initiation of criminal proceedings,” Prosecutor’s Office said.

To remind, the spokesman for Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), vice speaker of the parliament Edward Sharmazanov said after the August 20 sitting of RPA Executive Body that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan gave instructions to investigate the incidents linked to the names of Ruben Hayrapetyan and MP of RPA parliamentary faction Mher Sedrakyan. A statement was issued recently about the battery of Vahan Martirosyan, leader of Intra-National Liberation Movement, and his wife. Martirosyan linked that incident with the name of Mher Sedrakyan.