Prosecutor Sent to Russia in Connection with 2013 Murder Attempt Case: New Details

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has signed a decision sending Levon Baghdasaryan, the head of the first department of the Prosecutor General’s Office, to Russia's Rostov-on-Don. This trip is aimed at obtaining material evidence, specifically firearms and ammunition recognized in a criminal case from the competent authorities of the Russian Federation and transporting them back to the Republic of Armenia.

The Prime Minister’s decision states, 'In accordance with part 5 of Article 7 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on the Structure and Activities of the Government, the expenses related to Levon Baghdasaryan’s business trip to the Russian Federation (Rostov-on-Don) on December 2-3, 2019, for the purpose of obtaining and transporting the recognized material evidence of firearms and ammunition shall be covered from the funds allocated for foreign official trips in the 2019 state budget of the Republic of Armenia.'

Gor Abrahamyan, an advisor to the Prosecutor General, informed Tert.am that Baghdasaryan’s trip is related to an attempted murder case that took place in Rostov-on-Don back in 2013. 'This trip is related to the need to obtain specific material evidence recognized in the court regarding the attempted murder that occurred on February 25, 2013, in Rostov-on-Don. It involves the need to acquire firearms and ammunition from the competent authorities of the Russian Federation, transport them to the Republic of Armenia, and examine them in the context of the said judicial proceedings,' Abrahamyan stated.

According to media reports, the assassination attempt was made against one Aramayis Jomardyan, with the perpetrator being Tigran Hakobyan, who is currently in custody. The judicial information system indicates that Hakobyan has been charged with traveling to Rostov-on-Don in January 2013 on the orders of Armen Keyan to unlawfully take the life of Aramayis Jomardyan.

To carry out the murder, during an unspecified time period, he illegally obtained and kept a Makarov-type pistol and seven 9mm cartridges, which he used to shoot at Aramayis Jomardyan on February 25, 2013, near building 101 on Budyonnovsky Avenue in Rostov-on-Don, with the intent to kill.

However, the crime was not completed as Aramayis Jomardyan fired back in self-defense with his legally held firearm, causing Hakobyan to flee. Jomardyan was subsequently hospitalized and received medical assistance.