Charges Filed Against Head of Lori Regional Police Forensic Department

The Special Investigative Service of Armenia has reported that sufficient evidence has been obtained during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case, establishing that Armen Amiraghyan, the head of the Lori Regional Police Forensic Department, has misused his official position to act against the interests of his service and has committed a serious crime regarding the concealment of instruments used in the commission of particularly serious crimes.

On March 24, 2020, Amiraghyan participated as an expert in an investigation at the scene of an attempted murder involving the use of firearms in the city of Vanadzor. Following the investigation, the father of a participant in the incident, A. P., who had a close relationship with Amiraghyan, informed him that firearms belonging to his son had been fired during the commission of the crime. He requested Amiraghyan to interfere with the investigation to prevent the discovery that the bullets found at the crime scene had been fired from those weapons.

Due to his personal interest in not rejecting his close friend's request, Amiraghyan misused his official position and instead of performing legally required procedural actions, altered the ballistic characteristics of the firearms used in the crime. This action obstructed the judicial process and jeopardized the opportunity for a thorough, complete, and objective legal investigation of the case.

Amiraghyan has been charged under Parts 1 of Articles 308 and 334 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor for confirmation and subsequent submission to the court.

Notice: The suspect or accused in the alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedural regulations defined by the Armenian Criminal Procedure Code through a legally enforceable court judgment.