Criminal Case Initiated for Violence Against Police Officers

On April 7, 2020, officers from the Sissian division of the Armenian Police reported that two residents of the Sissian community (cousins) violated the established regulations during the state of emergency declared in Armenia on April 7, 2020, around 14:00 at a checkpoint on the Sisian-Yerevan highway. They did not comply with the police officers’ legal requests to present identification documents and movement sheets, leading to their invitation to the Sissian police department.

In awareness of their invitation to the police station, relatives gathered in front of the administrative building of the Sissian police department around 15:30. Displaying an overtly disrespectful attitude towards the public, they intentionally and grossly disrupted public order for an extended time by using non-life-threatening violence against police officers, pulling and striking various body parts, insulting them, and obstructing traffic.

In connection with the incident, a criminal case has been initiated at the Sissian investigative division of the Syunik regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee under Article 258 (hooliganism) part 3, clause 1, and Article 316 (violence against a representative of authority) part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. An investigation is ongoing.

Note: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Code of the RA, by a legally binding court verdict.