Vahe Avetyan ( hy, Վահե Ավետյան, August 2, 1979 – June 29, 2012) was an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

, medical serviceman major of the

Armed Forces of Armenia The Armed Forces of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի զինված ուժեր, Hayastani zinvats uzher), sometimes referred to as the Armenian Army ( hy, Հայկական Բանակ, Haykakan Banak), is the national military of Armenia. It consist ...

, who died on June 29, 2012, in coma, from

brain injury An injury is any physiological damage to living tissue caused by immediate physical stress. An injury can occur intentionally or unintentionally and may be caused by blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, burning, toxic exposure, asphyxiation, or o ...

. 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 The National Assembly of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Ազգային ժողով, ''Hayastani Hanrapetyut'yan Azgayin zhoghov'' or simply Ազգային ժողով, ԱԺ ''Azgayin Zhoghov'', ''AZh''), also infor ...

, at that time,

Ruben Hayrapetyan Ruben Rafiki Hayrapetyan ( hy, Ռուբեն Ռաֆիկի Հայրապետյան, born 9 March 1963 in Yerevan, Armenia), also known by his nickname Nemets Rubo (''Rubo The German''), is an Armenian football official, a former member of the Armenia ...

. Avetyan graduated from the

Yerevan State Medical University The Mkhitar Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU, hy, Երեվանի Մխիթար Հերացու անվան Պետական Բժշկական Համալսարան), is an Armenian medical university located in Yerevan, Armenia. History On ...

, he was an

otolaryngologist Otorhinolaryngology ( , abbreviated ORL and also known as otolaryngology, otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (ORL–H&N or OHNS), or ear, nose, and throat (ENT)) is a surgical subspeciality within medicine that deals with the surgical a ...

since 2004. He served at the central military hospital of the

Ministry of Defence {{unsourced, date=February 2021 A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is an often-used name for the part of a government responsible for matters of defence, found in states ...

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. 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,. The medical officers Vahe Avetyan, Edgar Mikoyan, Arkadi Aghajanyan, Garik Soghomonyan, and Artak Baiadyan were beaten by Harsnakar employees and security. Vahe Avetyan and Artak Baiadyan were taken to the hospital afterward. On June 18, at around 3:00 AM Avetyan underwent brain surgery, and after one more skull surgery he stayed in coma until his death on June 29. The approximate time of death was 6:15 AM.

Criminal case and public reaction

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

"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."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avetyan, Vahe, Death of July 2012 crimes in Asia 2012 in Armenia 2012 crimes in Armenia 2012 murders in Europe 2012 murders in Asia 2010s murders in Armenia 21st-century Armenian people 21st-century Armenian military personnel Armenian military personnel Armenian surgeons Otolaryngologists Deaths by beating Deaths by person in Armenia Yerevan State Medical University alumni Physicians from Yerevan