Karen Harutyunyan, one of the three suspects charged with brutally assaulting “Hetq” Chief Editor Edik Baghdasaryan last November 17, was sentenced today to five years imprisonment by the Kentron and Nork-Marsh District Court, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan presiding.

Mr. Harutyunyan, the only suspect of the three to be identified by police, was found guilty of “hooliganism” and “inflicting premeditated medium physical injury”.

Defense attorney Vahagn Manoukyan, in his summation, argued that various violations had occured during the pre-trial investigation and motioned the court that his client should be released. (“Hetq” will cover these alleged violations at a later date)

Edik Baghdasaryan commented that, “Yes, the pre-trial investigation wasn’t perfect. I too wish to be convinced that he (Karen Harutyunyan) actually committed the crime. But we exposed the fact that the defendant made some false statements. He declared that on the day on the attack he was at the hospital, at his mother’s bedside, while he actually at home and dialed up the internet.”

Mr. Baghdasaryan stated that the pre-trial investigative body overlooked the essential fact that between 10:00 and 11:00 pm on the day of the incident, Mr. Harutyunyan made several telephone calls from home to Vardan Ayvazyan, the former RoA Environment Minister, who was in Moscow at the time.

“Mr. Ayvazyan, who has links to the Harutyunyan family, was questioned, but the investigator failed to inquire about these calls,” Mr. Baghdasaryan stated, adding that, “The day six more call were made but their frequency dropped in the time up to Mr. Harutyunyan’s arrest.”

Prosecutor Hayk Balyan continued to assert that the guilt of the defendant had been overwhelmingly substantiated by the pre-trial investigation and during the trial itself.

Meanwhile, Karen Harutyunyan continued to claim his innocence. “I plead not guilty to the charges and am not afraid of the 5 1/2 years demanded by the prosecutor. Let him seek 7 years if he wishes to. It’s all the same to me. I am not guilty,” the defendant stated in court.