Witness of ex-Armenian police chief’s apparent suicide questioned; pressure allegations denied
The Investigative Committee of Armenia refuted a report by Hayeli.am media outlet alleging former Police Chief Hayk Harutyunyan, who was found dead in his home in the village of Bjni, told an eye-witness before killing himself that law enforcement authorities were pressuring him to give false testimonies against second President Robert Kocharyan and former Deputy Commander of the Armenian Police Troops Gegham Petrosyan.
Hayeli.am published an article titled “I am being forced to give false testimonies, but Robert Kocharyan and Gegham Petrosyan aren’t guilty: Hayk Harutyunyan’s last words before suicide”.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Investigative Committee said the person who was with him at the scene has been questioned in an attempt to reveal the circumstances of Harutyunyan’s death
“The latter disclosed the content of his conversation with Hayk Harutyunyan, which had nothing to do with any pressure on him within the framework of the March 1 criminal case or generally exerting pressures by anyone.
“The Investigative Committee is announcing that the article published on Hayeli.am is false,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the committee urged media outlets to refrain from disseminating unconfirmed information.