Police Acted Within the Law, Did Not Flee the Scene: Defense Attorney Provides Details

The police officer arrested in connection with a fatal accident that occurred yesterday has not yet been interrogated, but is expected to provide testimony today. This was stated by the officer's lawyer, Ruben Baloyan, in an interview with Hetq. He assures that they will support the investigation by disclosing what happened, and they have not filed an appeal against the arrest nor do they intend to do so.

“We regret that such an incident took place. It should not have happened. We sympathize with the relatives. No one would want to cause a fatal accident. Such events occur out of negligence,” Baloyan said.

Recall that around 18:20 yesterday, a fatal car accident occurred at the intersection of Leo and Paronyan streets in Yerevan, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old pregnant woman. The life of the fetus could not be saved either.

It was later revealed that the woman was struck by a vehicle belonging to the police detachment escorting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The Investigative Committee subsequently reported that the driver involved in the accident was the commander of the detachment.

A criminal case has been initiated under the second part of Article 242 and the first part of Article 244 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to violations of regulations aimed at ensuring traffic safety that caused a person's death through negligence and leaving the scene of the traffic accident.

Baloyan did not reveal many details regarding the suspicions towards his client, but insists that the policeman acted within the framework of the law regarding traffic regulations. “When the traffic at the intersection is controlled by a traffic officer, the traffic light stops working. The traffic must be regulated as the officer directs it. During the escort, there were traffic officers at the intersections. I repeat, when a traffic officer regulates traffic with gestures and signals, the traffic lights are not functioning. Therefore, all participants in traffic—drivers and pedestrians—must follow the gestures and signals of the traffic officer,” Baloyan stated.

The lawyer did not respond to the question of how the accident occurred and why it could not be prevented, indicating that the case is currently in the preliminary investigation stage and it is not appropriate to answer questions regarding whether the accident was due to the officer's negligence or the pregnant woman's failure to comply with the traffic regulations.

Addressing the fact that a criminal case has also been initiated for leaving the scene of the accident, Baloyan stated that the police officer did not leave the site; after traveling a certain distance of about 30-40 meters, he stopped and returned to the scene on foot, where an ambulance arrived quickly. The lawyer does not know who called the ambulance but mentions that the woman was quickly placed in the ambulance, after which the police officer left the site and took his vehicle to the police station.

Baloyan points out that in situations where an individual has injuries from a hit-and-run, it is advisable to leave them in a stable position so that the doctors can administer assistance, which, according to the lawyer, was done swiftly.

“Attempts are being made to portray the police officer as having fled. That cannot be the case,” Baloyan stated, adding that the commander's vehicle is well-known and so is his identity.

When asked whether the vehicle responsible for the Prime Minister's security has the right or obligation to stop in the event of an accident, Baloyan replied that he cannot answer that question as it requires reviewing specific documents.