Death of Vahe Avetyan

Vahe Avetyan (Armenian: Վահե Ավետյան, August 2, 1979^[2] – June 29, 2012) was an Armenian doctor, medical serviceman major of the Armed Forces of Armenia, who died on June 29, 2012, in coma, from brain injury. His death received much publicity and media attention in the Armenian society. Avetyan went into coma after being beaten in the "Harsnakar" restaurant, which belongs to a member of Armenian parliament, at that time, Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Death of Vahe Avetyan

Vahe Avetyan
Time	18:15 PM
Location	Central military hospital, Yerevan
Cause	Brain injury, coma
Burial	July 2, 2012
Charges	CC of RA, 6th and 14th points of 2nd section of 112th article, 1st and 3rd points of 2nd section of 113th article, 118th article[1]

Avetyan graduated from the Yerevan State Medical University, he was an otolaryngologist since 2004. He served at the central military hospital of the Ministry of Defence.^[3]

Fight and background

In the evening of June 17, 2012, a group of doctors, Vahe Avetyan among them, visited the restaurant. Avetyan was in sport clothes, which did not meet the restaurant dress requirements, so Avetyan with his friends got changed and then returned in permissible attire.^[4] The quarrel occurred on about 11:00 PM between Avetyan and a waiter because of Vahe's clothing situation. The fighting began after he hit the waiter,.^[5] The medical officers Vahe Avetyan, Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik Soghomonyan, and Artak Baiadyan were beaten by Harsnakar employees and security.^[6] Vahe Avetyan and Artak Baiadyan were taken to the hospital afterward.^[7] On June 18, at around 3:00 AM Avetyan underwent brain surgery, and after one more skull surgery^[8][9] he stayed in coma until his death on June 29. The approximate time of death was 6:15 AM.^[3]

Criminal case and public reaction

The case was first sent from the police to the investigation service of the Defence Ministry.^[10] Afterward, the case was transferred to the police investigation general bureau, and the police made an announcement on that.^[11] A criminal prosecution was made according to the 1st section of the 112th article of the Armenian Criminal Code:^[12]

"Infliction of willful bodily damage which is dangerous for life or caused loss of eyesight, speech, hearing or any organ, loss of functions of the organ, or was manifested in irreversible ugliness on face, as well as caused other damage dangerous for life or caused disorder... is punished with imprisonment for the term of 3 to 7 years."^[1]

References

1. Criminal Code of RA, special part, section 7:Crimes against man.
2. Vahe Avetyan in voter's registry
3. "Man beaten in Harsnakar brawl dies in hospital". A1plus. August 2023.
4. "A Stranger Was Pouring Earth on Vahe's Grave Being on His Knees All the Time". Aravot. July 31, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
5. ""Harsnakar" case investigation continues" (Document). RA Police weekly. 2012-06-29.
6. "Five suspects on restaurant beating case taken to Armenia's investigation department". 2 August 2023.
7. "Not 2, but 3 Doctors Were Beaten up at Harsnakar".
8. «Հարսնաքարում» ծեծված ու ծանր վիճակում գտնվող Վահեի գլխուղեղում նոր հեմատոմա է առաջացել (in Armenian). Aravot.
9. "OK, don't beat, he's done". The Armenian time.(in Armenian)
10. "No changes to the charges upon the presented fact of "Harsnaqar" emergency" (in Russian).
11. "RA police announcement of "Harsnaqar" restaurant incident".
12. "Criminal case: Ruben Hayrapetyan's bodyguards beat hospital doctors". 18 June 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.(in Armenian)