The Individual Who Fired Shots at 'Erebuni Plaza' Does Not Acknowledge the Charges Against Him

The individual, Arthur Torosyan, who fired shots at 'Erebuni Plaza', does not acknowledge the charges brought against him. His attorney, Eduard Aghajanyan, informed 'Azatutyun' about this.

"He admits that he did indeed carry out the actions in question. However, the main issue is that Article 218 of the Criminal Code (committing violence dangerous to life or health, using weapons or objects that can be used as weapons, taking two or more hostages) has a mitigating provision that states if a hostage-taker voluntarily releases the hostage and renounces their demands, they are not subject to criminal liability, provided their actual actions do not constitute another crime. Based on this, the accused Arthur Torosyan does not accept the charges against him, believing that after the incident, he renounced his demands and released the hostage," Aghajanyan said.

According to him, the victim in the case has also been interrogated. However, the attorney did not elaborate on what prompted the young man to take such actions or what demands he had made.

On January 23 at 14:40, a report was received at the police that there was an armed individual shooting in the 'Erebuni Plaza' hotel. The police leadership and operational groups immediately headed to the scene.

The police leadership, led by acting police chief Arman Sargsyan, negotiated with the armed man, after which he handed over his firearm. The man, born in 1987, was arrested.

A criminal case has been initiated regarding the incident at 'Erebuni Plaza' under Article 218, parts 2, 2, 3, and 7, Article 235, part 1, and Article 185, part 2, point 1 of the RA Criminal Code. The man, born in 1987, was arrested. By the order of the Chairman of the RA Investigative Committee, Hayk Grigoryan, the case is being investigated by the Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee's Serious Crimes Investigation Division. Earlier, it was reported that the man who fired shots at 'Erebuni Plaza' has been remanded in custody.