Murder in Dilijan: Criminal Case Initiated

The Tavush Regional Investigation Department of the investigative committee of Armenia is undertaking necessary investigative and procedural actions to clarify all circumstances surrounding the murder that occurred in Dilijan on December 24.

On December 24, 2019, at around 9:00 PM, a report was received from the Dilijan Medical Center indicating that two individuals with gunshot wounds had been admitted. One of the victims succumbed to their injuries.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Tavush Regional Investigation Department under part 2, point 6 of Article 104 and part 1 of Article 235 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

As a result of urgent investigative actions and operational-search measures, several circumstances have been established, including the crime scene and the identity of the victims, who are residents of the Dilijan community, born in 1987 and 1996. Preliminary data indicates that at around 9:00 PM on December 24, the alleged perpetrator fired bursts from a 7.62 mm caliber automatic rifle towards a 32-year-old man and his 23-year-old relative present at the scene. Following this, both were transported to the medical center, where the 32-year-old man eventually died from the injuries sustained.

During the preliminary investigation, several investigative actions have been carried out, including an examination of the crime scene, which revealed 14 spent cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber, blood-like traces, and collection of samples. Witnesses have been interrogated, and the clothing of the victims at the time of the incident has been confiscated.

For the determination of significant circumstances in the criminal case, forensic medical, post-mortem forensic, trace forensic, and ballistic examinations have been appointed. The preliminary investigation is ongoing. Necessary investigative activities and operational-search measures are being undertaken to establish all circumstances of the incident, identify the alleged perpetrator, locate them, and present them to the prosecuting body.

The relevant department of the police has been assigned tasks.