Zhoghovurd: Khachik Asrian meant it as a joke

Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Khachik Asrian declared
recently that MP Zaruhi Postanjian should be burned alive in a
bonfire.

`Zhoghovurd’ paper asked yesterday spokesman for Armenia’s Special
Investigation Service (SIS) Mikael Aharonian if SIS intends to start
proceedings as the deputy minister’s statements in fact contained a
call for violence. Aharonian answered in the negative. `It is
necessary to assess objective reality to decide whether it was a
threat or not. It is obvious that the deputy minister’s threat to burn
the MP in a bonfire cannot be considered as real. Besides, Khachik
Asrian declared on October 11 that his words had a figurative sense,’
Aharonian said.

Yesterday Asrian issued a statement saying that his statements about
burning Ms. Postanjian in a bonfire were allegedly related to her
deeds, rather than her body. Prior to that Z. Postanjian sent a letter
to Armenian Police Chief Vladimir Gasparian, asking him to ensure
security of her family and her own security.

From: A. Papazian