Taxi Passengers Insult Police and Assault After Being Stopped, One Person Arrested

On July 5, 2020, around 18:45, police officers on duty on Bagratuniats Avenue were approached by a taxi marked with an 'Opel Astra' logo, from which passengers directed offensive remarks and insults towards them.

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia reports that police officers, noticing that the passengers in the vehicle were not wearing masks and were violating the decision of the Chief Medical Officer of Armenia, pursued the vehicle with a patrol car to issue administrative violation reports against the individuals inside.

After stopping the mentioned vehicle, one of the police officers approached the young individuals who had exited the car. One of them, a 20-year-old resident of Gyumri, struck a police lieutenant in the face, committing a non-dangerous act of violence against him. Following this, a dispute and scuffle ensued, which was intervened by police forces serving in the area.

During the altercation, another passenger from the same vehicle, a 17-year-old resident of Yerevan, hit a junior sergeant in the ear, also committing a non-dangerous act of violence against him.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Shengavit district investigation department of the Yerevan city investigative office in accordance with Article 316 (use of violence against a representative of authority) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

During the preliminary investigation, the 20-year-old was arrested, while a measure of restraint for the minor resident of Yerevan has been set as being handed over to parental supervision.

Investigative and procedural actions are ongoing to clarify all circumstances of the incident.