July 19, 2000 - 18:15 AMT
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT THINKS THE RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS OF THE OCTOBER TERRORIST ACT SHOULD NOT SPEAK WITH POLITICAL STATEMENTS
19.07.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The President of Armenia thinks that if the relatives of the victims of the terrorist act (realized last year on October 27 in the Armenian parliament) have any claims to the course of the investigation of this case, they may state about it in a form foreseen by law, and not speak with political statements. The press secretary of the President of Armenia, Vahe Gabrielian stated this today, commenting for "Aravot" paper on the statement of the relatives of the victims of the terrorist act of October 27, 1999.
Vahe Gabrielian stated that at the last meeting with the President the relatives of the victims of the terrorist act didn't express any distrust to the Military Prosecutor, moreover, they stated about their complete confidence in the course of the investigation. The press secretary of the president says that today, when the investigation on the case is already finished, the relatives of the victims of the terrorist act can present in written form their protests, objections or applications to the investigating group.
On July 18 the relatives of the victims of the terrorist act of October 27, 1999 realized in the National Assembly of Armenia - the mother of the late Prime Minister Vazgen Sarkisian, the widows of the late Speaker, the two vice-speakers, deputies and ministers - spoke with a sharp declaration in which they put under doubt the legality of the judgement of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Armenia about terminating the criminal cases regarding the counselor of the president Alexan Harutiunian, deputy director of the National TV Harutiun Harutiunian, journalist Nairi Badalian and deputy Mushegh Movsisian.
"We are deeply convinced that in its sense the decision of the Military Prosecutor's Office about stopping the criminal cases of Alexan Harutiunian, Harutiun Harutiunian, Nairi Badalian and Mushegh Movsisian is a historical document demonstrating how the persons, who have realized a severest crime, are being released by a political order", was said in the statement.