Smbat Barsumyan Sentenced to Life, Pavlik Manukyan to 9 Years: Prosecutor's Request

The court session regarding the case of ten members of the "Sasna Tsrer" group concluded under the presidency of Judge Mesrop Makyan. During the session, prosecutors presented their closing arguments, demanding that the group members be found guilty under several articles of the Armenian Criminal Code.

They sought convictions for hostage-taking by an organized group (Article 218, Part 3, Point 1), illegal possession of firearms (Article 235, Part 3), and weapons theft by an organized group (Article 238, Parts 4, Points 1 and 2). Additionally, they argued for the application of Article 104, Parts 2, Points 1, 2, 3, and 11, which pertains to murder committed during the execution of a public duty through the kidnapping or hostage-taking of two or more individuals.

The prosecutor requested a 9-year sentence for Pavlik Manukyan and Sedrak Nazaryan, while Gagik Yeghiazaryan, Edward Grigoryan, and Areg Kyureghyan should receive 8 years and 6 months in prison. Vahram Avetisyan and Mkhitar Avetisyan were recommended to be sentenced to 8 years and 9 months, and Armen Bilyan was suggested to face 21 years. Smbat Barsumyan was called to be sentenced to life imprisonment, and the criminal prosecution against Arayik Khandoyan was to be terminated due to the death of the individual.

On July 17, during the storming of the Yerevan Police Patrol Service unit, Police Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Vanoyan lost his life, followed by Gagik Mkrtchyan and Yuri Tephanosyan. The latter, according to official reports, died from a sniper's gunfire.