Criminal Case on the Accident Involving 99 Route Minibus Rejected, Says Gor Abrahamyan

The advisor to the Armenian General Prosecutor, Gor Abrahamyan, informs that a decision has been made to refuse the initiation of a criminal case regarding the accident that occurred on February 5 of this year between a Honda vehicle and a Gazelle minibus servicing route 99 on Isakov Avenue in Yerevan.

Abrahamyan wrote on his Facebook page: "Considering the public interest and the importance of safety in public transport passenger transportation, I must inform the following. A decision has been made to reject the initiation of a criminal case based on the materials prepared concerning the accident that occurred on February 5 of this year between a Honda vehicle and a Gazelle minibus servicing route 99. This decision was made taking into account that the injuries suffered by seven citizens as a result of the accident were classified as minor or did not contain characteristics of being light, meaning they did not result in criminal legal consequences."

However, it has been established through the materials prepared that the driver of the minibus was in a state of alcohol intoxication at the time of the incident. Moreover, his driver's license had expired on December 4, 2019, and had not been renewed in accordance with the law. This means it has been confirmed that the individual driving the public transport vehicle did not have a valid driver's license at that moment and was also transporting a large number of people while in a state of heavy intoxication, which led to the accident.

In connection with these facts, an administrative proceeding has already been initiated at the Traffic Police of the Republic of Armenia, within which the issue of holding the individual administratively liable will be resolved. Nevertheless, the fact that the driver of the route taxi did not have a valid driver's license also evidently indicates a failure or improper performance of duties by the officials responsible for overseeing the activities of the organization servicing this route.

Considering these circumstances, in the framework of prosecutorial authority aimed at eliminating the causes and contributing conditions of crime, Yerevan City Prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan has submitted a petition to Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan. The petition raises the issue of ensuring that officials with oversight powers in the transport services sector apply relevant mechanisms more effectively and consistently, taking practical steps to eliminate cases of public transport operation without a driver's license or operation by individuals whose licenses have been suspended or expired, as well as driving it while not sober, and to report on the outcomes of the measures taken to the Yerevan City Prosecutor's Office.