Ten More Arrested in Armed Incident in Gavar: Investigative Committee

The Armenian Investigative Committee’s main department for particularly important cases continues extensive investigative and other procedural actions, as well as operational-search measures to clarify the circumstances surrounding the murders of two individuals and the infliction of gunshot injuries on four others in Gavar city, along with mass riots involving violence and property destruction.

This information has been reported by the Committee's Information and Public Relations Department.

Earlier, it was reported that on April 28, 2020, around 5:00 PM, an alleged offender (or offenders) opened fire in a dangerous manner towards residents of Noratus community - Vahe Avetisyan, Hrachya Hakobyan, Armen Sargsyan, Artyom Petrosyan, and Sasun Meloyan, as well as Gavar residents - Zohrab Paronikyan, Armen Haytanyan, and Vardan Davoyan. As a result, V. Avetisyan and Z. Paronikyan died on the spot from injuries incompatible with life, while the others were taken to the ‘Gavar Medical Center’ for medical treatment.

Shortly after the incident, a group of individuals attacked the Gavar hospital, breaking windows and damaging property, as well as physically assaulting Davit Haytanyan, causing various injuries including stab wounds and hemorrhagic shock of severe degree.

It was also revealed that on the same day, hours later, the relatives and friends of Z. Paronikyan and V. Avetisyan, upon learning of their deaths, believing that the individuals responsible for the homicides were A. Haytanyan, D. Haytanyan, and V. Davoyan who were at the hospital, attempted to invade the hospital with cutting and piercing tools with the intent to kill them. However, due to the intervention of police, the crime was not completed.

Additionally, they blocked the entrances to the Gavar hospital, using violence against police officers on duty, broke the entrance doors, and damaged the hospital property.

It is also worth noting that during the gunfire, H. Hakobyan, A. Petrosyan, A. Sargsyan, S. Meloyan, A. Haytanyan, and V. Davoyan also sustained injuries.

Criminal cases have been initiated under Article 104 (murder), part 2, clause 6, of the RA Criminal Code, and Article 235 (illegally acquiring, selling, keeping, transporting, or carrying weapons, military equipment, explosives, or explosive devices), part 1, as well as under Articles 34-104 (attempted murder), part 2, clauses 1 and 7, Article 185 (deliberate destruction or damage to property), part 1, and Article 225 (mass riots), part 2.

A decision has been made to merge the stated criminal cases into a single procedure for joint investigation. The pre-investigation is tasked to a group of investigators from the Armenian Investigative Committee’s main department for particularly important cases and the Gegharkunik Regional Investigative Department.

Currently, 15 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of participating in mass riots. The pre-investigation continues, with necessary investigative actions and operational-search measures underway to clarify all circumstances of the incident, identify the alleged offenders, and evaluate their actions legally.

Information regarding procedural decisions based on the obtained evidence will be provided periodically.