Suspect Arrested for Throwing Explosive Device Near Vardenis Police Station

On January 15, a 59-year-old resident of Gegharkunik region, M. Harutyunyan, suspected of throwing an explosive device towards the entrance of the special protected area of the Vardenis Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia on January 11 at around 20:20, has been transferred to the "Nubarashen" correctional institution of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia following a decision by the Gegharkunik Regional Court.

According to Shamshyan.com, the investigator of the Vardenis investigation department of the Gegharkunik regional investigative division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia submitted a petition to the court to apply a two-month detention as a preventive measure against M. Harutyunyan, who was identified by law enforcement officers of the Gegharkunik Regional Police and the Vardenis Police Department shortly after the explosion.

After conducting a closed court session and returning from the deliberation room, the judge granted the investigator's request.

Earlier reports indicated that on January 11, during a joint operational-intelligence activity conducted by officers of the Criminal Police Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Gegharkunik Regional Police Department, and the Vardenis Police Department, M. H. was identified and taken to the Vardenis Police Department based on a well-founded suspicion.

As reported by a photojournalist, he was suspected of carrying out an explosion using a homemade grenade near the gate of the special protected area adjacent to the Vardenis Police Department on the same day. According to G. Shamshyan's sources, M. H. was presented by the Vardenis Police Department to the Vardenis Investigation Division of the Gegharkunik Regional Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia. A criminal case was initiated in the Vardenis investigation division regarding the incident.