VIDEO: Drug-Containing Candies or Just Another Misinformation?

Marina Khachatryan, a former member of the Yerquir Tsirani party and the Yerevan City Council, wrote on her Facebook page, "Dear parents, according to circulating rumors, various individuals are approaching children in the streets, offering candies flavored with cherry and strawberry that contain different drugs. Without intending to cause panic, I urge you all to speak with your children, carry out explanatory work, and be as attentive as possible to our future generation, whether your child or someone else's."

AuroraNews contacted Marina Khachatryan to inquire whether she had reported to the police any information regarding the drug-containing candies. During our phone conversation, Khachatryan indicated that she had received such information from citizens, noting that these are rumors circulating among the public. Regarding her approach to the police, Khachatryan stated that she has no evidence to support these claims. However, there have been reports on Facebook about missing children, which the police have not hidden either.

Concerning the reports about missing children, on February 24, 12-year-old Tsaghik Malakhasyan was reported missing, and on February 19, 12-year-old Hrachya Badasyan was also reported missing. Both children have since been found.

AuroraNews also contacted the police. We were advised to check the Facebook page of Colonel Nelli Duryan, head of the 3rd Department of the Main Directorate of Criminal Investigation, where answers to all our concerns can be found.

Duryan specifically stated, "Recently, rumors have been circulating that various individuals are approaching children in the streets and offering candies that contain drugs. We inform you that no such reports have been received by the police thus far. We urge any witnesses to such incidents to immediately contact the police. At the same time, we call on citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information that can create a climate of panic among parents."