New Details Emerge from Armed Incident on Sevan-Martuni Highway

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has revealed new details regarding the armed incident that took place on the Sevan-Martuni highway, following extensive investigative and procedural actions conducted by the Gegharkunik regional investigative department.

As previously reported, on November 2, 2019, a resident of Gegharkunik province, Gurgan Hakobyan, born in 1979, was transferred with gunshot wounds to the Gavar medical center, where he subsequently died without regaining consciousness.

In connection with this incident, a criminal case was initiated by the Gegharkunik regional investigatory department of the Investigative Committee. As a result of necessary investigative actions, several circumstances of the incident were clarified, including the identity of one of the individuals alleged to have committed the crime, a resident of Yerevan born in 1989.

The Investigative Committee's press service reported that according to the findings of the investigation, the 30-year-old man facilitated the murder of Gurgan Hakobyan, a resident of Noratus village, by taking a Mercedes Benz E320 from a resident of Yerevan at the end of October 2019, under the pretext of renting it out to another person. Subsequently, on November 2, 2019, this vehicle was provided as a means of committing a crime.

The alleged perpetrator, with the intent to unlawfully take G. Hakobyan's life, opened fire from an illegally held and carried firearm in a manner dangerous to many lives, targeting the front and left side of a UAZ vehicle at the 39.2 km section of the Sevan-Martuni highway. As a result, the driver, Gurgan Hakobyan, sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds, while another individual in the vehicle, born in 1962, sustained bodily harm of a nature not qualifying for light injury.

Based on a sufficient combination of evidence, the 30-year-old man has been charged under part 1 of Article 38-104 of the RA Criminal Code. He has been remanded in custody. The investigation continues, with necessary measures being taken to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the crime and present them to the prosecutorial authority.