Citizen Who Threw Stones and Bottles at Police Officer Found

The investigation into the mass disturbances that occurred during a gathering organized by the political opposition's "Resistance" movement on June 3, 2022, at the intersection of Proshyan and Demirchyan streets in Yerevan is ongoing within the Special Investigative Service of the RA Investigative Committee. This was reported by the Committee.

Previously, it was reported that, under the organization and direction of the movement's leaders, participants attempted to break through the police cordon near the intersection of Proshyan and Demirchyan streets, disregarding the legal demands of police officers maintaining public order. They used stones, metal rods, hammers, bottles, and other objects as they clashed with the police, leading to serious injuries for more than forty police officers. Following these events, a corresponding criminal case was initiated the same day on charges of mass disturbances threatening public safety.

As a result of extensive measures taken during the preliminary investigation, charges have been brought against 17 individuals for participating in the mass disturbances. The preliminary investigation concerning three individuals, G. Karapetyan, R. Abrahamyan, and A. Khachatryan, was completed on July 14, 2022, and was forwarded to court with an indictment.

Based on the evidence collected during the preliminary investigation, a decision was made on June 7, 2022, to charge citizen G. Sargsyan under the second part of Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code (which corresponds to the first part of Article 327 of the RA Criminal Code that came into force on July 1, 2022) for committing a socially dangerous act. G. Sargsyan was accused of instigating the police officers after the public calls from the organizers of the procession, by striking the helmets of the police officers forming a barrier, directly opposing the preventive actions of the police, and throwing stones and bottles at the officers while ignoring their legal demands.

Under suspicion of hiding from the investigation, G. Sargsyan was declared wanted, and a measure of restraint in the form of imprisonment was chosen against him. On July 29, 2022, G. Sargsyan was found by the RA police officers and presented to the prosecuting body.

A petition has been submitted to the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan to reconsider the detention of the accused G. Sargsyan. The preliminary investigation continues.