YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Chief of Police, Vladimir Gasparyan, denied having beaten Norik Mirzakhanyan (a.k.a. Kartol, which means “potato”), who works at Etchmiadzin City Hall.   

“I have no contact with vegetables. I am not saying this is incorrect, but rather I am saying this is a tale and nonsense. Gasparyan is Police Chief, whereas ‘Kartol’ is a vegetable. I cannot do such thing. With my type, with my nature, I have not done such thing for already fifteen years,” Vladimir Gasparyan stated.       

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Norik Mirzakhanyan (a.k.a. Kartol), who was arrested on December 12, 2011, on charges of using illegal drugs, was released soon thereafter, Hraparak daily wrote. “He [Mirzakhanyan] was the Residential Communal Department Chief of [Armenia’s] Etchmiadzin City Hall. It became apparent that when the subordinates reported to Police Chief Vova [Vladimir] Gasparyan that Kartol had sworn at him, the Police Chief arrived in Etchmiadzin, after his [Mirzakhanyan’s] arrest, and personally beat Mirzakhanyan, at the police precinct, who had offended him,” Hraparak wrote.