Criminal Case Initiated Over Hooliganism with Weapons at Nightclub

The Investigative Committee of Armenia is conducting an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a hooliganism incident involving the use of weapons at the "Catalina" nightclub. This was reported by the Committee's Public Relations Department.

As a result of extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out in conjunction with the Armenian police, a number of significant circumstances relating to the incident have been clarified.

Specifically, on March 21, 2021, a resident of Charentsavan, accompanied by friends, visited the "Catalina" nightclub, where a dispute arose between him and the club's manager around 5:00 AM, which was also intervened by a relative of the manager. According to the investigation, during the argument, the young man attempted to stab the manager with a knife, but was beaten by the latter and his relative.

Unable to tolerate this, on March 24, 2021, around 10:30 PM, the Charentsavan resident entered the nightclub with about 30 of his friends, armed with a hunting rifle, a pistol, and wooden clubs, to assert their superiority and defy widely recognized norms of moral conduct. Ignoring societal rules of behavior and human coexistence in a public space, they disrupted the nightclub's normal operations, grossly violating public order and displaying open disrespect towards the staff and patrons. They broke and damaged the club's doors, shot at the club's walls with a hunting rifle and gas pistol, and inflicted physical injuries on one of the patrons, thus instilling a sense of insecurity and fear among the employees and customers of the club.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Kotayk regional investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia under Part 4 of Article 258 and Part 1 of Article 235 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

Necessary investigative actions have been carried out during the pre-trial proceedings, including an examination of the crime scene, where traces of gunfire, broken glass, and samples were found. For the purposes of clarifying substantial circumstances of the criminal case, expert examinations have been appointed, and several individuals have been interrogated. Four individuals involved in the incident have been subjected to a preventive measure of a signature not to leave.

The investigation continues. Measures are being taken to ensure an objective and comprehensive inquiry, to clarify all the circumstances of the incident, the source of the weapons used, the complete circle and identity of the participants, to individualize the actions of each, to provide a legal assessment, and to locate and present them to the prosecuting authority.

Notice: A suspect or accused in the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a legally binding court decision under the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.