Charges Filed Against 8 Individuals for Attempting Escape from Nubarashen Prison

The investigation into the attempted escape by foreign detainees and convicts from the Nubarashen penitentiary has concluded at the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia. Charges have been filed against 8 individuals.

The report of the attempted escape was received on April 25, 2018, and the criminal case was initiated on the same day. Following extensive investigative actions by the General Department of the Investigative Committee, significant circumstances were clarified, and the identities of those involved in the crime were established.

According to preliminary findings, on April 25, 2018, at approximately 3:00 PM, 11 detainees and convicts held in cell 008 of the 6th building of the Nubarashen penitentiary were escorted by a junior officer of the security department to the exercise yard located in the same building.

When the entrance door to the yard was closed, one of the detainees used violence against the escorting officer and forced him into the exercise yard, thereby preventing him from resisting. During this incident, another detainee seized the keys for the locks on the cells and the entrance doors of the buildings from the officer.

Disregarding the established rules of conduct within the penitentiary, some of the detainees opened the doors of 6 different cells in the 6th building and called upon foreign detainees to escape.

Based on the gathered evidence, a total of 8 detainees and convicts, all foreign nationals (citizens of Iran), joined the escape attempt, having been held in cells 008 and 009. They navigated through the basement corridors and reached the entrance door of the 1st building. They used violence against an officer on duty but were unable to open the entrance door to the building and escape. This was due to the quick response from the security personnel of the penitentiary, which was prompted by a report from the supervising officer, who arrived at the scene and prevented the escape attempt.

Based on the compilation of evidence acquired during the pre-trial proceedings, 8 individuals have been charged under Article 34-355, Part 2, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. The investigation has been completed, and the case has been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion.