61-Year-Old Man Claimed He Fell into His House's Furnace, But the Reality Was Different

On August 29, 2021, at 12:15 PM, a report was received from the "Artashat Medical Center" LLC regarding a 61-year-old man admitted for treatment with first to third degree burns (30 to 40 percent) and a laceration in the left elbow area. He claimed that he had fallen into a furnace in his home.

During the preparatory work, actions taken revealed the true circumstances of the man’s injuries and the location of the incident. Preliminary information indicated that around 11:30 AM on the same day, a dispute occurred on the road between the villages of Norashen and Kaghzrich in the Ararat region, between the 61-year-old resident of Norashen and a fellow villager. During the altercation, the latter stabbed him in his left hand, then poured gasoline over him and attempted to set him on fire. However, the crime could not be completed, as the victim managed to flee the scene and later was transported to the hospital for medical assistance.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Artashat division of the RA police under the first part of Article 34-104 of the RA Criminal Code, which has been forwarded to the Ararat regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia for further investigation.

During the investigation, necessary investigatory and procedural actions were carried out, including an examination of the crime scene, and examinations were appointed to clarify significant circumstances of the case. Hours after the incident, the assailant voluntarily presented himself to the authorities and confessed to pouring gasoline on his fellow villager and attempting to ignite him during the argument. He has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The investigation is ongoing. Measures are being taken to clarify all circumstances of the incident and ensure an objective and comprehensive examination.