On June 15, Arazap Village Mayor Manvel Harutyunyan was arrested for the use of physical force against a state employee. On June 11, an intoxicated Mayor Harutyunyan prevented Lieutenant Grigor Mkoyan who heads the Traffic Division of the Armavir Police Department from conducting an examination of a automobile accident that occurred in Arazap late that night. Reportedly, Mayor Harutyunyan verbally abused the police officer and even beat him. The extent of the injuries sustained by Lieutenant Mkoyan remains unclear but we were told by the Armavir Investigation Squad that the results of the medical examiner have yet to be issued. A video camera mounted with Lieutenant Mkoyan's police car captured the incident on tape and a criminal case has been launched. Mayor Harutyunyan was reported to have blurted out to the police officer - How dare you come into my village and try to investigate an accident? Some twenty-five village mayors have petitioned the Armavir Regional Administration to release Mayor Harutyunyan from jail and rather place him under house arrest till the start of the trial. His fellow mayors, while not condoning the actions of the Arazap mayor, also claim that the police officer was not without blame in the matter and didn't behave properly. During a conversation with "Hetq", Armavir Regional Administrator Ashot Ghahramyan said that he had met with local residents and most of the local mayors and told them that the behavior of Mayor Harutyunyan was unacceptable, even if the police officer didn't conduct himeself properly. "The village mayor didn't have the right to overstep his jurisdiction and prevent the officer from conducting his professional duties. As a former police officer and citizen, I find the actions of Mr. Harutyunyan against a representative of the law to be unacceptable," Mr. Ghahramyan said and refused to say whether he'd modify the mayor's detention request.