YEREVAN. – Armenian Defense Ministry’s investigation service decided to stop the criminal proceedings against the son and bodyguard ex-governor of Syunik region Suren Khachatryan.

The investigation service decided to lift the restraining order and stop criminal proceedings on the basis of collected materials and the available evidence, Defense Ministry infirmed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The decision may be appealed within seven days.

As informed earlier, shots were fired nearby Suren Khachatryan’s home in Goris city, on June 2 at around 12:10am, as a result of which one person was killed and two others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to Goris hospital. The person who died was Avo Budaghyan, the former Goris mayoral candidate. The wounded are Budaghyan’s brother Artak, and Nikolay Abrahamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Khachatryan. Subsequently, the wounded were transferred to capital city Yerevan.

A criminal case is launched on charges of murder and illegal carrying, possession, and use of arms and ammunition, and the Military Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the investigation.

Two people are arrested in connection with this incident. One of them is the Syunik regional governor’s son, Tigran Khachatryan, 19, and the other is the governor’s bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan.   

Pursuant to his petition, Suren Khachatryan was relieved of his duties as Governor of Syunik Region.