Five Individuals Arrested in Ongoing Armed Incident Investigation in Gavar

The Special Investigation Service of Armenia has received and accepted for proceedings the criminal cases related to the killing of two individuals and causing gunshot wounds to four others in Gavar, as well as mass riots accompanied by violence and destruction of property.

On April 28, 2020, around 17:00, on Liberty Street in Gavar, the alleged perpetrators opened fire in a manner dangerous to many lives, targeting residents of Noratus community: Vahe Avetisyan, Hrachya Hakobyan, Armen Sargsyan, Artyom Petrosyan, and Sasun Meloyan, along with Gavar residents Zohrab Paronikyan, Armen Haytanyan, and Vardan Davoyan. As a result, Vahe Avetisyan and Zohrab Paronikyan died on-site from injuries incompatible with life, while the others were taken to the Gavar Medical Center with various bodily injuries.

Following the incident, on April 28, 2020, investigations were initiated under Article 104 (murder) and Article 235 (illegal acquisition, sale, storage, transport, or carrying of weapons, military equipment, explosive materials, or explosive devices) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

On the same day, a report was received by the Gavar Police about a group of individuals attacking the Gavar hospital, breaking windows and assaulting David Haytanyan, causing him serious injuries including stab wounds and hemorrhagic shock.

It was also found that relatives and friends of Zohrab Paronikyan and Vahe Avetisyan, upon learning of their deaths and believing that A. Haytanyan, D. Haytanyan, and V. Davoyan were responsible for the killings, stormed the hospital intending to kill them with cutting and piercing tools. However, due to police intervention, the crime was not completed, and the assailants fled.

In connection with these events, criminal cases were also initiated under Article 34-104 (attempted murder) and Article 185 (intentional destruction or damage to property) of the Armenian Criminal Code.

Additionally, during the firefight on April 28, the residents of Gavar and Noratus were also injured. Relatives and friends of Vahe Avetisyan and Zohrab Paronikyan, believing that A. Haytanyan and V. Davoyan were responsible for their killings, blocked the entrances to the hospital, assaulted police officers on duty, broke down the entrance doors, and damaged property inside the hospital.

A criminal case under Article 225 (mass riots) of the Armenian Criminal Code was initiated in connection with this incident as well.

On April 28, a decision was made to consolidate the criminal cases. Following the instruction from the head of the Special Investigation Service, the preliminary investigation was assigned to a team of investigators from the Special Investigation Service and the Gegharkunik regional investigation department.

An investigative plan has been established, and numerous urgent investigative actions have been conducted and are ongoing. Several expert investigations have been appointed to clarify significant circumstances of the case.

As of now, five individuals have been arrested on suspicion of participating in the mass riots. The preliminary investigation continues, and necessary investigative actions and operational-search measures are being undertaken to ascertain all the circumstances of the incident, identify the alleged perpetrators, and evaluate their actions legally.

Further information regarding procedural decisions made based on the evidence collected will be provided in due course.