15 Individuals Arrested in Connection with Gavarr Incident; Decision Made to Arrest 3 More

The Investigation Committee of the Republic of Armenia is actively conducting investigations and other procedural actions regarding the criminal case concerning the murder of two individuals in Gavarr and the infliction of firearm-related bodily injuries to four others, along with mass disturbances involving violence and destruction of property.

As part of the investigation, operational and investigative measures are underway to clarify all circumstances of the incidents, identify the alleged perpetrators, and individualize their actions for legal assessment. Information has been obtained indicating the involvement of three additional individuals in the aforementioned incidents, and today, April 30, the prosecuting authority has made a decision to arrest them, with the appropriate police department tasked with executing the arrests.

At this time, 15 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of participating in the mass disturbances, with an additional three individuals set to be arrested.

It is noteworthy that criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 104 (murder) of the RA Criminal Code, specifically paragraph 2, subparagraph 6; Article 235 (illegal acquisition, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons, military supplies, explosives, or explosive devices) of paragraph 1; Article 34-104 (attempted murder) paragraph 2, subparagraphs 1 and 7; Article 185 (deliberately destroying or damaging property) paragraph 1; and Article 225 (mass disturbances) paragraph 2. These criminal cases have been consolidated into a single proceeding, and the preliminary investigation, by order of the Chairman of the RA Investigation Committee, is being carried out by a group of investigators from the Main Investigation Department for Particularly Important Cases and the Gegharkunik Regional Investigation Department.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing, and information regarding the procedural decisions based on the evidence obtained will be provided regularly.