Davit Jalalyan, a reporter for “A1+” news, provided an explanation at the Kentron police station that the police didn’t beat him on the evening of April 8 at Northern Avenue but that he simply stumbled backwards and fell on his back and thus suffered his injuries. This is what the press service of the RoA Police communicated to “Hetq”.

Let us remind readers that the reporter who “fell on his back” had sustained injuries to his abdomen area, which is readily apparent from the photos taken immediately after the incident.

In addition the videotape available on the “A1+” website clearly shows how the police were jostling people gathered on Northern Avenue. The videotape ends at the moment when one of the police officers (his face doesn’t appear on the tape) tells Davit, “Hey, that’s enough already…” at which point the process of “falling down” begins.

After the incident, “A1+” wrote that the reporter has personally beaten by  State Security Service Chief Robert Melkonyan who struck him in the face and abdomen, after which the beating continued by other officers.

The emergency brigade took Davit Jalalyan to the Republic Hospital. A physical examination revealed nothing of a life threatening nature but the reporter was admitted for further medical surveillance.

The police didn’t visit Davit while in hospital. But according to our information, two employees of the Kentron police station visited the reporter’s home that same night and issued threats. As a result, the explanation of “falling down” was born.

Davit Jalalyan refuses to answer our questions with the explanation of not “creating additional problems with the police.”

Regarding the incident, Gagik Shamshyan, a photo-journalist for the “Aravot” and “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspapers was invited down to the police station.

Gagik Shamshyan states, “I said that the police pushed and shoved Davit and prevented him from carrying out his professional duties as a reporter. But I said nothing about the police beating him because I witnessed nothing of the kind.”

The above incident took place in the presence of a large group of people. It remains a mystery why the police have only seen fit to call Shamshyan in for questioning.