Your Testimony gives an Impression that you led a Condominium, and not a special Purpose Battalion of the Military Police: Judge to the Witness

During today’s hearing in the Anti-Corruption Court in Gasparyan, his former Deputy Levon Yeranosyan, Head of the Police Internal Audit Department Vardan Tunyan and Commander of the Military Unit of Police Forces Gurgen Grigoryan, 5 more witnesses were questioned in the case.

Acccording to Iravaban.net, all 5 testified in the court about one of the episodes, which refers to the Military Police servicemen who did not show up for duty.

Servicemen of the N military unit Khachik Badeyan (since 2001), Nelson Saroyan (since 2004), Arman Movsisyan (since 2009) being assigned to the position of military policeman of the Military Police of the Ministry of Defense, having the rank of non-commissioned officer, have not appeared for military service since the day of their appointment. Instead, they performed work that did not issue from the status of a soldier. Nelson Saroyan worked as the driver of Lyova Sargsyan, the brother of the 3rd President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. Khachik Badeyan and Arman Movsisyan were Alexander Sargsyan’s bodyguards.

Vardan Nadaryan’s interrogation

The former Commander of the Special Purpose Battalion of the Military Police of the Ministry of Defense announced in the court that he learned about the trial from the mass media. He mentioned that no one forced him to testify during the preliminary investigation, he told what he learned. “I told the preliminary investigation that having about 400 employees, I could not control every employee by myself. When I learned about those 3 persons, having 3-4 deputies, I said that one of the deputies reported that some people are not in line. Maybe I reported to the leadership of the department. The investigator asked whether the head of the department (Vladimir Gasparyan-ed.) was aware. I said that I never reported to the head of the department, there was never a conversation between us on this issue. I reported to one of the deputy heads of the department, I remember that I have reported to the first deputy Hayk Stepanyan.”

Vardan Nadaryan mentioned that he did not know that the servicemen were “sent” to the brothers of the 3rd President of the Republic of Armenia. The Presiding Judge Vardges Sargsyan was interested in what rights and responsibilities Nadaryan had during his term of office, that these relations were regulated by normative legal acts.

“We were guided by the Constitution, the acts of the Ministry of Defense and the department, laws, and, orders. The judge continued:

– By which laws, for example? Would you name a law by which you were guided?

– My rights and obligations were defined by the orders, directives and normative acts of the Ministry of Defense.

– Which order of the Ministry of Defense defines you rights and responsibilities, as the commander of the battalion?

– I can’t remember clearly.

– It is difficult to imagine that the Minister of Defense should issue an order regarding the rights and duties of the commander of the battalion. Are you telling news? I also served in the Armed Forces for many years, I wear those colonel’s shoulder straps, I left the Armed Forces a few years ago. You say such things, it seems to me that things have changed in two years or half an hour, and I do not know.

Vardan Nadaryan was not able to name any specific law or order. To the question, what were the responsibilities of the commander of the battalion, Nadaryan answered: “I had responsibilities to regulate the normal work of the battalion, to manage it, to carry out the orders… I had various, many functions.”

The Presiding Judge announced that the court hearings are also educational and read the duties of the commander of the battalion: “You will remember if you had known.”

In response to the judge’s questions, Vardan Nadaryan also stated that there were no absentees in the staff when assuming the position. He did not remember when he found out about the deployment of those 3 servicemen, and who exactly informed him about that.

“If I hadn’t worked in the Military Police, I would have an impression from your testimonies  that you led a condominium and  not a battalion of special purpose of the Military Police. You report to Hayk Stepanyan rapidly, then your deputies report to you verbally, then you do not discuss the superior’s orders, but in the same conditions you do not look at the dispatch orders. Did you really work in a military institution, did you manage a military institution for 2 years?” the judge asked.

In response to the omissions made by Vardan Nadaryan, announced by the judge, the head of the battalion stated: “During my command, the battalion performed all tasks and functions with honor, it was a normal unit.”

Regarding this statement, the judge stated that the witness’s statement did not tell him anything. “I am absolutely not interested in what tasks your military unit has carried out under your leadership. I am interested in what judgment I will ultimately pass on the mentioned former officials in the deliveration room. I want to understand why social justice was not observed in your military unit, why the provisions of internal regulations were not observed in your military unit, why 3 servicemen did not perform military service.

In response to all this, Vardan Nadaryan said: “This is my omission respectful Judge.”

It is important to note that all the questioned witnesses stated in court with 100 percent confidence: that they did not immediately inform Vladimir Gasparyan of any data regarding the absence of those 3 servicemen. And those of the witnesses, who did not have the duty to report, stated that they could not answer the question.

Vardges Sargsyan asked the witness whether he would like his testimony to be used as the basis for Vladimir Gasparyan’s alleged conviction.

– In what sense could such a thing be?

– I ask this question in the context of assessing the credibility of your testimony.

– Is it about me?

The interrogation of Vardan Nadaryan, which lasted about 50 minutes, took place in this atmosphere.

The interrogation of Hrachya Karapetyan

He was the commander of the platoon where Nelson Saroyan was registered. He mentioned that after becoming commander of the platoon and getting acquainted with the lists of soldiers, he asked the commander of the platoon Artur Torosyan who the person in question was, and they said that he was sent on a mission. He did not have information about where he was sent, what he was doing. “If my immediate commander says he is sent on a mission, I organized my service with the rest of the employees.”

According to the witness, when he asked, he received such an answer.

To Judge Vardges Sargsyan’s question, did the soldier ever visit a military unit during times of alarm; the platoon commander stated that he did not.

Armen Simonyan’s interrogation

He held the position of deputy in charge of personnel affairs in the battalion of special purpose. Simonyan stated that he learned from the investigator, during the preliminary investigation, that the mentioned 3 servicemen did not show up for duty. He mentioned that he did not have any data on the servicemen in the higher ranks. “This was done by the commander of the given platoon, or company. No one else.”

The judge tried to project the situation.

– Mr. Simonyan, let’s assume that I serve in the mentioned military unit. I woke up today, I decided not to show up at the service, it is suitable for me. Now, in the end, who discovers or who records the absences?

– I cannot give a full answer to your question, I cannot.

Armen Simonyan also mentioned that he reported only emergency cases, not absences. He also mentioned that Hayk Stepanyan dealt with staff recruitment and personnel issues. In response to the judge’s question, could there be servicemen who did not show up for work for 7 years and that circumstance remained within the military unit? “In other words, the battalion kept that circumstance and did not report it to the superiors.”

Armen Simonyan mentioned that he does not rule it out, but he does not think that it happened that way. To the judge’s question, who coordinated the battalion, the head of the department or his deputies, the witness answered that he did not remember.

Norayr Karapetyan’s interrogation

The witness served in the Military Police for about 23 years. He was also a company commander in the battalion of the special purpose, and then he retired. Karapetyan mentioned that he has not seen and does not know those 3 servicemen. According to Karapetyan, he was informed that the mentioned 3 persons were sent to the police department. “The command said they were sent on business. What should I ask?”

He mentioned that he does not remember such a case when the mentioned servicemen had showed up at military unit. The judge asked the witness a rhetorical question. Is it an accepted practice to be on a business trip for 4 years? There are such “good works”, and we have come here and work as judges. I should go on a “business trip” work.”

Norayr Karapetyan also stated in the court that the commander of the battalion should have been aware of the absences. The judge was also interested in how Karapetyan would describe Vardan Nadaryan. The latter noted that Nadaryan is described as normal, and “there is nothing to describe.”

“Okay, that’s enough. When  you said “normal” is already clear to me,” the judge noted and considered the questioning to be over.

Grigor Khechoyan’s interrogation

About the “seconded” persons, the commander of the platoon mentioned that when he was appointed to the position, they were sent on a mission, when he was released, they were still on a mission.

“Mr. Yenokyan, ask questions. My health condition can’t stand it any longer,” the Presiding Judge said addressing the Public Prosecutor.

He learned about the fact that the mentioned servicemen were seconded “when he was receiving  company”.

Khechoyan stated in the court that he does not remember what duties he had as a commander of the company. To the judge’s question, whether the commander of the battalion could not know that there were people on the lists who are on a business trip and do not show up for duty, Khechoyan said, “maybe.”

– Maybe, “yes”, or maybe “no”.

– In other words, commander of the battalion could not know?

– How do I know?

– Well, who will know?

– If anyone knows, ask him.

– I think you will know.

– No.

– You have a “representative” appearance, it seemed to me that you knew everything in the military unit, Mr. Khechoyan.

After several other questions from the judge, Khechoyan stated that he has problems with memory. To the question: what caused these problems, the witness answered: “The age, just the age.”

“Our process has nothing to do with it, am I right?” Because there are cases when people come, enter, and say: I came… I remembered in the morning, I woke up, talked to my wife, came to tell everything. I got to this podium… I forgot. I simply want to say that I am not the reason of bad memory,” the judge said.

After that, Vardges Sargsyan asked the witness whether Vladimir Gasparyan fate does not bother him.

– That is my personal issue, and I am free to refrain from answering it.

– That’s exactly what you cannot leave without the reply. Do you care about Gasparyan’s fate?

– No.

– Would you like your testimony to be used by the court as the basis for Mr. Gasparyan’s possible conviction?

– No.

– I am already beginning to understand the reasons for not remembering. It is true that our robe is black, not white. I’m not a doctor, I can’t write a prescription in the end, but we understand.

Considering the interrogation over, the judge wished Grigor Khechoyan and his memory well. “Don’t come to these sessions anymore.”

The witness nodded to Vladimir Gasparyan and left the meeting hall in a happy mood.

No other witnesses appeared today, the court session was postponed. The next court session will be held on 18 October.

Yevgenya Hambardzumyan