Possible Direct Murder or Murder Concealed as Suicide: Melikyan on Kutoyan's Death Case

In a conversation with journalists, the head of the Special Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee, Arthur Melikyan, stated that former NSS Director Georgi Kutoyan had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck area.

“A criminal case has been initiated regarding his death under Article 110.1 of the RA Criminal Code, which deals with causing someone to commit suicide. However, many hypotheses have been raised – it could be a direct murder or a murder disguised as a suicide,” Melikyan said, adding that there were no injuries to the lower jaw area.

According to him, a CLOCK-type pistol was found at the crime scene, which was a weapon he received as a reward. It was gifted to Kutoyan by the head of the Georgian security service.

Melikyan also reported that more than thirty cartridges and bullets were discovered at the scene, and there are damage marks on the walls. Currently, actions are being taken at the crime scene with Kutoyan's wife and father. Additionally, data from surveillance cameras in the area are already being collected.

It was noted that the body of former NSS head Georgi Kutoyan, who was found shot, was discovered today, January 17, in an apartment on Paruir Sevak Street in Yerevan. Kutoyan was 38 years old, married, and had one son. He was appointed as NSS Director under Serzh Sargsyan on February 12, 2016.