The RA Special Investigative Service (SIS) reports today that it has dropped any further criminal proceedings regarding the November 14 incident at the Marriott Armenia Hotel in Yerevan involving businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan and Syunik Regional Governor Surik Khachatryan.

Hambardzumyan has told Hetq that she will not appeal the decision.

Hambardzumyan had filed a report with police alleging that Surik Khachatryan had hit her in the hotel’s lobby.

 The SIS confirms that Khachatryan did indeed slap the businesswoman during an argument in the hotel lobby, and that this was verified by eyewitnesses and the hotel’s security cameras.

In its statement, the SIS also notes that there was longstanding “bad blood” between the two.

The SIS reports that Silva Khachatryan testified that the slap caused no injury and that she refused a court medical examination.

The report also states that the Syunik Governor expressed remorse for his actions.