Prosecutor's Office Urges Citizens to Refrain from Such Actions Amid Protests

The examination of materials initiated in the criminal prosecution bodies indicates that there have been several instances in which citizens residing both in the capital and in specific regions have been forcibly compelled or materially incentivized to participate in the gatherings, marches, and protest actions occurring in Yerevan in recent days.

Criminal cases have already been initiated for 3 incidents, one of which has resulted in two individuals being charged as defendants, and they have been taken into custody. For another incident, materials are being prepared.

In particular, on May 5, 2022, a recording of a phone conversation between two individuals was circulated online, concerning the conditions under which money was received to participate in gatherings. Based on the materials prepared, a criminal case has been initiated in the Armavir regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee under the second part of Article 163 of the RA Criminal Code. As a result of the actions taken, the identities of the two individuals were established, with information obtained about the material inducement of one of the residents of Armavir to participate in the gatherings in Yerevan, who in turn was encouraging others to participate for financial gain.

With a combination of evidence, the aforementioned two residents from Armavir have been charged under the second part of Article 163 of the RA Criminal Code, and custody has been applied as a measure of restraint.

Another video regarding a different recording has been published online, titled "1000 drams for each student, Agrarian University Legal Department's Emma Sargsyan urges Student Council President Tornik Aliyan to organize for money, proposing 1000 drams for each student to participate in opposition gatherings." In the course of preparing materials at the police station, it was determined, based on the analysis of the recording, that during a conversation involving four individuals, three of them were proposing to an individual named Tornik, identified as the president of the Agrarian University Student Council, to provide 2,000,000 AMD for the participation of 2000 students in protests and specific actions against compliance.

A criminal case has been initiated on this incident in the investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee in Yerevan on May 10, 2022, under the second part of Article 163 of the RA Criminal Code. In order to clarify all circumstances of the case in a timely manner using the entire range of criminal procedural tools, the supervising prosecutor has given specific instructions to the investigative body to carry out certain actions, and the preliminary investigation is ongoing.

In another case, based on the directive of the Yerevan Prosecutor’s Office, materials have been prepared in the investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee regarding a media report that on May 4, 2022, drivers were forced to block the “Kyiv” and “Davtashen” bridges in Yerevan with trucks and concrete mixers. During the preparation of materials, it was found that four individuals blocked the roadways of the aforementioned bridges using various brands of trucks and concrete mixers belonging to their company "A.D.A. Tech," disrupting the normal traffic flow in the area. A criminal case has been initiated in the investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee in Yerevan on May 5, 2022, under the second part of Article 163 of the RA Criminal Code.

As a result of operational investigative measures, information was obtained regarding instructions given to the drivers of “A.D.A. Tech” on May 4, 2022, to carry out disobedience actions and block traffic at different addresses in Yerevan. The preliminary investigation is ongoing in the direction of clarifying all circumstances of the incident.

Additionally, on May 4, 2022, operational information was received at the Central Division of the Police concerning an unidentified individual coercing two citizens to participate in the gatherings held in Yerevan on the same day, material incentivizing them, which resulted in the two blocking the traffic directions of the "Victory" bridge with two Mercedes trucks. Materials are being prepared at the police regarding this incident.

Given the aforementioned, the RA Prosecutor General’s Office considers it necessary to remind that the coercion or material inducement of individuals to participate in gatherings, marches, and actions carried out during them are criminal acts prohibited by law, punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years. We urge citizens to refrain from attempts to commit such acts, as the RA Prosecutor's Office is showing clear diligence and commitment to providing appropriate legal assessments to the actions of those involved in any such incidents, recording attempts, and prosecuting them under sufficient grounds.

At the same time, we call on citizens to report any encounters with such criminal infringements or specific information regarding such phenomena to law enforcement agencies.