Suspect Who Escaped from Court Surrendered and Arrested

The Investigative Committee of Armenia reports that on August 13, 2020, around 10:30 AM, a 37-year-old resident of Dilijan conspired with an unidentified individual to abduct his ex-girlfriend, a 43-year-old resident of Hrazdan. They traveled to her workplace in a car driven by the unidentified individual.

The 37-year-old man demanded that the woman resume their relationship, but she refused. Following a confrontation, he forcefully attempted to abduct her, using violence that posed a danger to her health. Despite her resistance, he overpowered her, dragged her into the back seat of the car, and instructed the driver to head towards the shores of Lake Sevan, thereby removing her from her natural micro-social environment. As a result of the violence, she sustained minor injuries, but around 8:00 PM, she managed to convince her ex-boyfriend to let her return home.

In response to the incident, the Hrazdan division of the Armenian police initiated a criminal case under Article 131 (Abduction) of the Armenian Criminal Code. Sufficient evidence led to the 37-year-old being formally charged and a request for his arrest was submitted to the court as a preventive measure.

On August 20, 2020, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kotayk region granted the request, and before police could arrive, the suspect attempted to escape by jumping from the courtroom window in the presence of a bailiff and a defense attorney.

Later that same day, he voluntarily surrendered to the Dilijan division of the Armenian police, from where he was transferred to the 'Hrazdan' penitentiary institution under the Ministry of Justice. The investigation is ongoing.