“Several grenades, thirty seconds apart, one after another, exploded around me. I felt worse, I was suffocating” – Narek Hayryan |

“I still don’t feel well. I feel dizzy, nauseous and weak,” said Narek Hayryan, a CivilNet operator who was injured on June 12 by a grenade used by the police, in an interview with Aravot.am.

When I asked him if he had been identified as a victim and if any procedures had been initiated, he replied that he had not taken any special action. “I went to a private clinic because the state-run Armenian Medical Center did not diagnose anything. They said I should be examined by a neurologist, but that evening he came. The neurologist refused, saying it was not his specialty because it happened during a political action. I went home, it was late, and my health condition did not improve. Later, I went to a private clinic, where a neurologist diagnosed me with concussion and nerve spasm. The doctor gave me medicine and told me to rest. I was also examined by an ophthalmologist.”

When I asked if he had been contacted by the investigating agency, Heilian said he had no interest in the matter. “I did not leave the scene in an ambulance; I thought I was in shock and would go home and get better. When I saw that my health was not improving, I went to see a doctor.”

Recalling the events of June 12, Haiyan said: “Several grenades exploded right next to me. I was lucky not to be hit by the fragments. I was filming in the park at the time and the police were running towards the park aggressively. I thought they were beating people. I saw people being pulled and pushed, and at that moment I fell down. My equipment was damaged, and the live recording device I was using was also broken, so I could not work. During the fight, I got three bruises on my legs. I walked towards the police and then turned my back to the explosion and walked towards the crowd. Several grenades exploded next to me, thirty seconds apart. My health deteriorated; I suffocated, my vision went black, and after the third grenade exploded, I began to faint. I used to paint the wounded. Then my colleagues came; I fainted at the beginning of the Baghramyan River. Citizens and patrols came to help. They said I was pale and lifted my legs so that I would not lose consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I managed to get home and see a doctor.”

Tatev Harutunyan

Photo taken from Narek Hayryan’s Facebook page