Seven Individuals Charged with Violence Against Police Near Lorut Village

On August 14, 2021, police officers from the Tumanyan division of the Lori regional department of the Republic of Armenia were conducting patrols in the vicinity of the village of Marz, equipped with a service “UAZ” vehicle to prevent and detect illegal logging incidents. Around 9:00 PM, they noticed an unregistered “Ford” vehicle loaded with timber that was traveling from the forest towards the village.

The police attempted to stop the vehicle using a loudspeaker, but the driver failed to comply with the officers' legal demand and continued driving. While making a turn near Lorut village, the driver lost control, veered off the busy part of the road, and overturned into a ravine. As a result, two individuals inside the “Ford” vehicle—Hovhannes Ghazaryan, a 1986-born resident of Marz village in the Tumanyan community, and Vahram Danielyan, a 1998-born resident of Vanadzor—were killed.

After the accident, the police officers exited their vehicle to provide assistance and simultaneously contacted the Tumanyan division to summon additional forces and emergency medical services. During this time, numerous unidentified individuals from nearby villages approached the scene and began to pull and strike the aforementioned police officers. They also overturned the police's “UAZ” vehicle and set fire to a arriving police service “VAZ 2106” vehicle using arson methods.

On August 15, 2021, a criminal case was initiated in the Tumanyan investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee based on articles 242, 258, and 316 of the RA Criminal Code, as well as article 185 of the same code. On the same day, four individuals suspected of committing these crimes were detained by the instruction of the prosecutor of the Lori region.

On August 17, A.B. was charged under part 3 of article 185 and part 3 of article 258 of the RA Criminal Code; V.V. under part 3 of article 185, part 4 of article 258, and part 1 of article 316; V.K. under part 3 of article 185, part 1 of article 258, and part 1 of article 316; and M.S. under part 1 of article 258 and part 1 of article 316. Detention was chosen as a preventive measure for the latter.

Additionally, in the mentioned criminal case, S.G. was charged under part 3 of article 258 and part 1 of article 316; A.S. under part 3 of article 258 and part 3 of article 185; and M.S. under parts 1, 2, and 3 of article 185. A non-leaving signature was chosen as a preventive measure for the latter.

Thus, a total of seven individuals have been charged in connection with this criminal case. The pre-trial investigation continues, with appropriate measures being taken to clarify all circumstances of the incident as well as the identity and involvement of all participants.

Note: A suspect or accused in a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court ruling that has entered into legal force in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.