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June 8, 2007 NCI Addresses the Death of Levon Gulian
NCI founder and newly elected MP Raffi K. Hovannisian first expressed his condolences to—and affirmed his solidarity with—the family of Levon Gulian. Hovannisian then welcomed the audience with opening remarks. “Armenia cannot demand justice from the world when it does not respect its own citizens’ God-given right to life,” he said. Hovannisian reserved condemnation not merely for the murderers of Levon Gulian, but for the demeanor of the authorities, who failed to respond to the incident in proper measure. In her intervention, the victim’s widow Jemma Gulian briefly spoke about the conduct of law enforcement prior to and following her husband’s death. She denied allegations that her husband either committed suicide or died in an attempt to escape from the police precinct. “Levon loved his family, children, and work so much,” she maintained. “So loving in life and concerned about his country’s progress, he could not, all of a sudden, have decided to take his own life. If his intention was to evade the law, he would not have appeared at numerous prior questionings on his own volition.”
In their turn, Hrair Ghukasian and Aram Karakhanian—the legal representatives of Levon Gulian’s family—expressed reservations about the criminal investigation. “The medical examination was inconclusive and based on just one piece of evidence,” they stated. “Moreover, though the examination was presented as the result of a joint effort between local authorities and independent international experts, the conclusions of the latter were not received.” The attorneys were concerned that, in an attempt to cover up the crime, authorities would drop the investigation. The next speaker, Karen Hakobian, chairman of the “Huis” NGO, emphasized that a fair settlement of this affair was of vital importance for the public. He called upon his fellow citizens to demand justice in this case—both for the victim and the perpetrators. Impunity, Hakobian maintained, breeds new crimes. “The only road remaining under these conditions is the continued pressure of international bodies, the joint and dedicated effort of NGOs, and close collaboration with the attorneys and the journalists who are covering this issue,” he concluded.
The remainder of the session was dedicated to exchanges of views and recommendations among the public figures and policy specialists in attendance. Noteworthy were interventions by Armenia’s first Ombudswoman and Heritage Party MP Larisa Alaverdian; civil rights attorney and also Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjian; independent journalist and Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) associate expert on human rights Zhanna Aleksanian; ACNIS director of administration Karapet Kalenchian; chairman Mikael Danielian of the Armenian Helsinki Association; Gohar Armenakian of the Soldier’s Protection Committee; social activist Arsen Khachatrian; Artak Kirakosian from the Civil Society Institute; Levon Gulian’s sister Lilit Gulian; and several others. The roundtable participants also decided to form a working group dedicated to the combat against all unlawful actions.
In his closing remarks, NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian once again asserted that the death of an Armenian citizen under mysterious circumstances and, what is more, at a state institution—a police precinct—“is yet another test for the development of the Armenian justice system and civil society.”
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