21 Bullet Casings, 1 Dead and 1 Injured: What Happened on the Sevan-Martuni Road

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched a criminal case regarding an armed incident that occurred on the Sevan-Martuni highway.

According to the information provided by the Investigative Committee's press service, on November 2, 2019, at around 9:30 AM, a report was received from the Gavar Medical Center stating that a resident of Gegharkunik Province, Gurgen Hakobyan, born in 1979, had been transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound but passed away without regaining consciousness.

Preliminary data indicate that on November 2, 2019, at approximately 9:17 AM, in the section of the Sevan-Martuni highway at kilometer 39.2, a burst of gunfire was directed at the front and left side of the "UAZ" vehicle driven by Gurgen Hakobyan, with the intent to take his life in a manner that endangered many others. As a result, Gurgen Hakobyan sustained multiple life-threatening gunshot wounds, and another individual born in 1962, who was in the vehicle at the time, also sustained injuries.

A criminal case has been initiated at the Gegharkunik regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee under Article 104, Part 2, Point 6 and Article 235, Part 1 of the Armenian Criminal Code. An investigative group has been formed, an investigative plan developed, and working hypotheses have been proposed.

During the preliminary investigation, urgent investigative actions have been conducted, including a site examination, which revealed around 30 gunshot wounds on the front and left side of the "UAZ" vehicle, and 21 fired casings were found at the roadside along with blood-like traces; samples were taken, and seizures were made.

To clarify significant circumstances in the criminal case, forensic medical, forensic chemical, forensic biological, forensic trace, and forensic ballistic examinations have been appointed. The investigation is ongoing. Necessary measures are being taken to ensure a comprehensive, objective, and thorough examination of all circumstances of the case, to identify the alleged perpetrator(s), and to present them to the prosecuting entity.

Instructions have been given to the relevant division of the Police.