22:40, 14 August 2009

In Armenia, shooter at Mikael Danielyan acquitted

The end of the preliminary investigation of the case on the attack on Mikael Danielyan, a well-known human rights activist and chairman of the Helsinki Association, committed by Tigran Urikhanyan, former leader of the pro-governmental Progressive Party of Armenia (PPA), was unexpected - both parties were regarded innocent. Mr Danielyan himself told journalists about it.

He has reminded that on May 21 last year in one of central streets of Yerevan he was attacked by PPA leader Urikhanyan who made a shot from a gas pistol into his face.

"A criminal case was opened on the fact under the article of hooliganism; however, the investigation has concluded that we are both innocent. They have decided that I was self-defending, but Urikhanyan, who has vision problems, was also self-defending against my self-defence. And since the republic's code has no article on 'self-defence against self-defence', the case was closed," said Danielyan.

He has already sent two complaints to judicial instances against this decision.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent