Details on the Murder Case of ‘Tuyi,’ ‘Tyushi,’ and Two Others

In the high-profile murder case involving ‘Kanaker-Tuyi’ (Arthur Ghazaryan), ‘Tyushi’ (former MP Artush Simonian), and two others, five individuals have been charged with murder, while two others face charges of complicity. However, only two of them have been detained. Moreover, the investigative body is refraining from announcing whether the murder of the former MP has been solved or what type of firearm was used in the murder. The Investigative Committee considers this information a preliminary investigation secret, according to the reports by Factinfo.

As previously reported, on November 11, 2021, around 02:30, an armed confrontation occurred at the home of former MP Artush Simonian, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including the host, a criminal authority known as Kanaker-Tuyi. The police indicated that 45 cartridges and bullets, four pistols, and two submachine guns with ammunition were found at the crime scene. A criminal case was initiated under Article 104, Part 2, Points 1 and 6, and Article 235, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, for the murder of two or more persons in a manner dangerous to many lives and the illegal possession of weapons.

According to our sources, during discussions over existing disagreements between the parties, the criminal authority Kanaker-Tuyi was the first to open fire. Reports suggest that he acted as a member of Nikol Pashinyan's team, supporting the Civil Contract party during that election period. The gunfire reportedly came from a weapon awarded to Araik Harutyunyan, leading to the counter-fire from Tyushi’s side.

To obtain official clarifications regarding the criminal case, Factinfo submitted a written inquiry to the Investigative Committee, seeking to clarify how many persons have been charged, what measures have been taken against them, whether it has been established which shot led to the death of Artush Avagyan, how many weapons were used at the scene, how many of the discovered weapons were possessed illegally, and who held the legally kept weapon, as well as its claimed connection to the weapon awarded by Araik Harutyunyan. We also inquired about how many hypotheses have been presented by the investigative body regarding the causative factors of the incident and whether the motivation for the armed clash has been unveiled.

In response to our written inquiry, the Investigative Committee reported that an investigation is underway regarding the murder case that occurred at the address 16A, Kanaker 16th Street, Yerevan, on November 11, 2021, at around 02:30, initiated based on Article 104, Part 2, Points 1 and 2, and Article 235, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. As of now, seven individuals are involved as defendants; five are charged under Article 104, Part 2, Points 1 and 7, and Article 235, Part 2, while one is charged under Article 38-104, Part 2, Points 1 and 7, and Article 38-235, Part 2, and one under Article 38-104, Part 2, Points 1 and 7, and Article 235, Part 2,” stated the Investigative Committee.

For five of the accused, detention has been chosen as a restraint measure, of which two are currently in actual detention, while two others are wanted, and one was released as a result of a review of the legality of the detention by the Criminal Court of Appeal. For the other two defendants, a signature not to leave has been selected as a retention measure.

According to the Investigative Committee, “to determine the method of production, type of weapons found at the scene, identities of those who used them, and various circumstances of significant value for the criminal case, a complex of forensic, forensic expert, fingerprint, trace, and chemical examinations has been appointed, the results of which have not yet been received.”