Citizen Arrested on Suspicion of Violence Against Police During Opposition Rally

Investigative and procedural actions are underway within the framework of a criminal case initiated under the first part of Article 316 of the RA Criminal Code, concerning an incident of violence against police officers by one of the participants of opposition gatherings. This was reported by the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

According to preliminary information, during a rally organized by the political opposition on May 11, 2022, when participants were attempting to restrict access to the administrative building of the Yerevan City Hall, one of the participants—previously held criminally liable four times for various offenses, including robbery under aggravated circumstances, as well as illegal possession of firearms and hooliganism involving their use—did not comply with the lawful demands of police officers on duty at the specified location and assaulted them in the course of fulfilling their official duties. Furthermore, he threatened to use violence by attempting to strike the police officers with his head.

During the preliminary investigation, a decision has been made to involve this participant from the political opposition rally as a defendant under the first part of Article 316 of the RA Criminal Code. To ensure his participation in the discussion of the motion for detention as a preventive measure, a decision has been made to arrest him in accordance with Article 130 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing.