Criminal Cases on the Murder of Former MP and Suicide of Another MP Dismissed

The criminal cases concerning the murder of former National Assembly member Karo Karapetyan, known as 'Yuvetsi Karo,' and the suicide of former MP Harutyun Garagyozian, known as 'Karameli Harut,' have been dismissed by the Investigative Committee of Armenia, according to SHAMSHYAN.com.

It is noted that H. Garagyozian had fatally shot K. Karapetyan with his registered firearm in the Nork-Marash administrative district, and the following day, he was found dead in a building in Kotayk province. A firearm was discovered near the body.

Earlier reports indicated that a criminal case was initiated based on the decision of Vladimir Asatryan, a senior investigator in the particularly important cases section of the Central and Nork-Marash investigative division of the Investigative Committee of Yerevan, according to the characteristics of Article 34-104, Part 2, Subsection 1, and Article 235, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code.

Photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan reported that the mentioned case was opened on October 6, 2018, regarding the shooting incident that took place at the 'Aighi' restaurant complex located at 238 Armenakyan Street, Yerevan.

According to the photojournalist, a search has already been announced for Harutyun Garagyozian, 59, a former National Assembly member known as 'Karameli Harut,' residing at 32/1 Tumanyan Street in Yerevan, on suspicion of committing the murder.

Information suggests that on the day of the murder, around 10:00 PM, H. Garagyozian, Karo Karapetyan, 58, known as 'Yuvetsi Karo,' a resident of Shahumyan village in Ararat province, and 57-year-old Sargis Avagyan from Masis city, Ararat province, met at the restaurant complex, where a dispute over financial matters ended in murder.

S. Avagyan was initially taken to the 'Nork-Marash' cardiological hospital with a diagnosis of 'gunshot wound to the left flank area and gunshot wound to the right wrist', and later transferred to St. Grigor Lusavorich medical center, while K. Karapetyan was admitted to Erebuni medical center in a deceased state with a diagnosis of 'gunshot wound to the right side of the chest.'

Preliminary information indicates that during the quarrel in one of the restaurant's compartments, H. Garagyozian fired at K. Karapetyan and S. Avagyan with a 'Beretta' type pistol. Police officers, investigators, and prosecutors who arrived at the scene discovered the 'Beretta' type pistol, which was the weapon used in the crime, loaded with six unshot 9mm cartridges, one bullet, and four spent casings.

The discovered items were confiscated by investigator V. Asatryan, and a number of examinations have been appointed, including forensic, trace evidence, fingerprint, and post-mortem examinations.

On October 7, 2018, the body of former MP Harutyun Garagyozian, known as 'Karameli Harut,' was found in the guest room of the administrative building of a stone production facility located in the administrative territory of Zovuni village in Kotayk province. Police and investigators discovered H. Garagyozian’s body on a sofa, holding a golden pistol.