Controversial Syunik Governor’s Son Charged Over Brawl

YEREVAN — Controversial Syunik governor Surik Khachatrian’s son Tigran has been detained in connection with a May 2 incident in the town of Goris in which a young man was injured.

According to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Khachatrian, 22, is suspected of inflicting “grievous bodily harm” on Harutiun Zakarian, one of the two brothers allegedly beaten up by the governor’s son and his friends in Goris on May 2.

The parents of Harutiun and Mushegh Zakarians allege that the “gang” led by Khachatrian used clubs and iron rods in attacking their sons. In the wake of the incident Harutiun was hospitalized with injuries. Doctors reportedly could not save the sight of one of his eyes.

The incident is believed to stem from a “road rage” dispute involving Khachatrian and one of the Zakarian brothers. Khachatrian allegedly stopped the car driven by Harutiun Zakarian and claimed that the latter committed a traffic violation. The stopped driver protested and a quarrel began. It later continued elsewhere in the southern Armenian town and also involved Harutiun’s brother.

According to investigators, Khachatrian is suspected of committing actions punishable with a prison term of 3 to 7 years under Armenia’s penal code. He was charged under a relevant count on Monday.

In 2013, Tigran Khachatrian was prosecuted in connection with the deadly shooting near his father’s mansion in Goris. But investigators then cleared him and his father’s bodyguard of any wrongdoing, saying that both acted in self-defense.

Surik Khachatrian, who is also notorious for his violent behavior, resigned from the post of Syunik’s governor in the wake of that incident, but was controversially reappointed in September 2014.