Charges Filed Against 7 More Individuals in Ijevan Disturbances Case: Investigative Committee

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has announced that charges have been filed against 7 additional individuals in connection with the disturbances that occurred during a protest in Ijevan city, involving violence against police officers and acts of hooliganism.

One more person has been added as a defendant in the case, and a search warrant has been issued for their arrest, as per the Investigative Committee’s statement.

As previously reported, on July 17, 2019, starting around 6 PM, a group of individuals blocked the Armenia-Georgia interstate road at the intersection of Yerevanian and Ijevanian streets in Ijevan city to express their discontent over strict measures against illegal logging. They intentionally violated public order in a blatantly disrespectful manner towards residents of Ijevan and participants in the traffic, shouted, insulted, and damaged the metal covering of a public transportation stop at the mentioned intersection, using items such as stones and bats to inflict bodily harm to numerous police officers representing the authorities who were providing service in that area to ensure public order, disobeying legal orders to cease these unlawful activities.

A criminal case has been initiated based on Article 258, part 3, point 1, Article 258, part 4, Article 316, part 1, and Article 316, part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

As a result of the necessary investigative and procedural actions undertaken in the criminal case, various circumstances of the incident have been clarified, and factual data has been obtained regarding the identities of individuals alleged to have committed the crime.

With sufficient evidence collected, charges have been filed against 7 individuals, 6 of whom are charged under Article 258, part 3, point 1, and Article 316, part 1 of the Criminal Code, while 1 individual is charged under Article 258, part 4 and Article 316, part 1. For the latter, a signature bond not to leave has been chosen as a measure of restraint.

One individual has been implicated as a defendant under Article 258, part 4, and Article 316, part 1. A search warrant has been issued for them since the operational and investigative measures taken to locate and present them for investigation have yielded no positive results. Pre-trial detention has been chosen as a measure of restraint for this individual.

Thus, as of today, the criminal case involves 21 individuals with the status of being defendants, with 6 charged under Article 258, part 4, and Article 316, part 1, and 15 charged under Article 258, part 3, point 1, and Article 316, part 1. Ten individuals are in pre-trial detention, 8 have been issued a signature bond not to leave, 2 have been subjected to alternative measures, and 1 individual is wanted.

The investigation is ongoing, with measures being taken to ensure a comprehensive, objective, and thorough examination of the circumstances of the incident. Instructions have been given to the investigative body.