Altercation Occurs Among a Group on Babajanyan Street in Yerevan; Arrests Made

The Investigative Committee of Armenia is conducting an investigation in the Malatia-Sebastia administrative district of Yerevan into a case of hooliganism involving the use of weapons and objects used as weapons on Babajanyan Street, as well as the intentional infliction of serious bodily harm on two individuals. This was reported by the Investigative Committee.

According to preliminary information, on April 1, 2022, at around 23:55, a medical center received a report that two residents of Yerevan, aged 25 and 24, had sought medical assistance for a "left thigh stab wound" and a "gunshot wound to the left heel." As part of immediate measures taken, it was determined that the victims sustained these injuries within a courtyard of a building on Babajanyan Street, where traces resembling blood and a fired cartridge from a 9mm caliber pistol were discovered.

A criminal case has been initiated under the fourth part of Article 258, the first part of Article 112, and the first part of Article 235 of the RA Criminal Code. The young men have been recognized as victims. During the pre-investigation, urgent measures were undertaken that revealed several circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to obtained data, around 23:00 on April 1, 2022, an altercation occurred among a group of individuals in the courtyard of one of the buildings on Babajanyan Street, involving the young men who were later transported to the hospital. During this confrontation, public order was grossly violated, showing open disrespect towards society, with violence being used against the mentioned young men through the use of an object functioning as a weapon; a shot was fired from an unidentified type of firearm towards one of the young men, while the other suffered a blow to the left thigh with a sharp cutting-piercing instrument.

In cooperation with law enforcement officers, immediate measures were employed, identifying two individuals involved in the incident. Hours after the incident, they were taken into custody and presented to the prosecuting authority, where they were arrested on suspicion of engaging in hooliganism using a weapon and objects used as weapons, intentionally inflicting serious bodily harm on the young men, and illegally acquiring, possessing, and carrying weapons. During the investigation, various investigative and procedural actions were carried out, including the seizure of the clothing worn by the victims and suspects at the time of the incident, which showed traces of material resembling blood, the collection of samples from the scene of the shooting, and the appointment of forensic medical, forensic ballistic, and forensic chemical examinations.

The investigation is ongoing, and necessary measures are being undertaken to establish the complete array of individuals involved in the incident, to individualize the actions of each participant, to provide a legal assessment of their actions, and to discover the instruments used in the crime. Orders have been issued to the investigative body.

Notice: A suspected or accused person is considered innocent until their guilt is proven in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, based on a court ruling that has taken legal effect.