Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan has called upon the society to avoid politicizing military doctor Vahe Avetyan’s death.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ashotyan, a vice president of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), agreed that the severe beating of Vahe Avetyan was an incident that could have happened to anyone in Armenia.

“I am very sorry we didn’t manage to save Vahe. That’s a tragic incident that has left a feeling of resentment in all of us,” he said.

Major Vahe Avetyan was the chief of the ENT Department at the Yerevan Garrison Hospital. He was brutally beaten by the security guards of the Harsnaqar restaurant on June 17. Avetyan was immediately hospitalized with a serious skull trauma but doctors didn’t manage to save his life. He died in hospital on Friday, after remaining unconscious for about a fortnight.

Commenting on the incident, the minister said he feels very sorry for losing both a doctor, and an officer of the army, as well as a citizen of Armenia.

“I am sure the law enforcement agencies will treat the culprits in the strictest manner after conducting an inquest,” he told Tert.am at the news conference.

Harsnaqar belongs to Republican MP Ruben Hayrapetyan, the president of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA).

Asked to comment on the public calls for boycotting the restaurant or stripping the businessman-politician off mandate, the minister said those protests have left him with an impression that many were looking forward to the doctor’s death.

“Maybe I sound very cynical, but I did not know that man, and the moment the news of his death broke, I was actually in a kind of nervous state, experiencing anxiety and sorrow for all this; however, I am growing to feel that many wished this tragic incident to have a lethal outcome,” he said, adding that he is aware of the possible criticism his statement might meet.

“I know I will be criticized for these words, but I am used to telling the truth, looking into your eyes,” Ashotyan said.