13 Individuals Arrested Following Clashes in Ijevan, Investigative Committee Reports

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has reported the initiation of a criminal case concerning acts of violence against police officers and hooliganism in the city of Ijevan.

On July 17, 2019, starting from around 6 PM, a group of individuals expressed their discontent regarding the strictening of measures against illegal logging by blocking a section of the Armenia-Georgia interstate highway at the intersection of Yerevanyan and Ijevan streets in Ijevan.

During this time, around 8:30 PM, the group engaged in blatant violations of public order, displaying contempt towards residents and participants in the traffic, shouting obscenities, damaging the metal roof of a public transport stop at the intersection, and resorting to violence.

Specifically, some participants of the protest caused bodily harm to several police officers—representatives of the authorities—who were present in the area to maintain public order, using stones and batons as weapons. They did not adhere to the legal requests of these officers to cease their criminal actions, resulting in both non-dangerous and dangerous forms of violence against law enforcement.

Considering the presence of lawful grounds for initiating a criminal case, an investigation was opened under Article 258, Part 3, Clause 1, Article 258, Part 4, Article 316, Part 1, and Article 316, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code at the Tavush regional investigative department.

The head of the Investigative Committee has instructed that the preliminary investigation continue at the Main Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee. An investigative plan has been established, and numerous urgent investigative actions have been conducted and are ongoing to clarify significant circumstances of the case, with several expert assessments commissioned.

A total of 13 individuals were arrested on suspicion of hooliganism involving the use of weapons, while another 6 people have been subjected to a signature not to leave as a preventive measure. The preliminary investigation is ongoing, with necessary investigative and operational-search measures being undertaken to clarify all circumstances of the incident, identify the individuals involved in the alleged crime, individualize their actions, and provide legal assessment of their conducts.