Malakyan Brothers Charged with Violence Against Police Officers and Hooliganism

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched an investigation into a series of incidents involving the Malakyan brothers, professional football players, who are accused of committing violence against police officers and hooliganism.

According to the investigation, on August 30, 2020, around 11:00 PM, the 26-year-old and 29-year-old brothers, along with a friend and several others, were at a café near the Cascade complex in Yerevan. At that time, two traffic police inspectors observed a violation of parking regulations involving a Mercedes belonging to the brothers’ friend and requested that he approach them using a loudspeaker. After providing information regarding the administrative violation, they prepared the relevant report.

At that moment, the brothers, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, approached the inspectors, demanding that they not hold their athlete friend accountable. Upon receiving a refusal, they deliberately obstructed the police officers in the execution of their duties, physically assaulted them, tore off one officer’s service badge and recording device, and another officer’s epaulet. The 26-year-old brother punched one of the police officers in the face, causing bodily harm.

Meanwhile, two investigators from the National Security Service (NSS) who were in the vicinity noticed that the brothers were using violence against representatives of authority and approached them, demanding that they cease their illegal actions. Irritated by the reprimand, the brothers, prioritizing their personal honor over public interest, continued to deliberately violate public order, disturbing the peace of those in nearby cafés and displaying blatant disrespect towards society by shouting insults and attacking the investigators with punches and kicks, resulting in bodily injuries.

Their actions were also accompanied by resistance against other police officers present at the scene.

Based on gathered evidence, the Malakyan brothers have been charged under Articles 316 (use of violence against a representative of authority) and 258 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. A petition has been filed with the court to select custody as a measure of restraint. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.