Businessman Leasing Warehouse Space at Surmalu Trade Center Arrested

In connection with the criminal case initiated following the explosion at the Surmalu Trade Center on August 14, 2022, the businessman leasing warehouse space, V.H., has been arrested again. On February 23, 2023, the Court of Appeals granted a special review appeal filed by the supervising prosecutor of the criminal proceedings.

It is important to recall that on August 14, 2022, around 1:30 PM, an explosion occurred at the Surmalu Trade Center, leading to the initiation of criminal proceedings under Article 357, Part 2 (violating fire safety rules, resulting in death or serious consequences through negligence) and Article 358, Part 2 (violating rules for storing, accounting, transporting, delivering, or using flammable or explosive materials, which resulted in death or other serious consequences through negligence) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

It was determined during the proceedings that V.H. signed a contract with I.M., the director of the Yerevan Canning Factory, in 2019, obligating him to ensure the safe operation of the space, as well as adhering to fire safety and sanitary-hygienic conditions, with a commitment to compensate for any damage caused due to his fault. However, V.H. violated these contractual obligations and the requirements of the “Fire Safety Rules” established by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Emergency Situations of Armenia on June 18, 2015, by storing a large quantity of explosive materials in the leased warehouse space.

As a result, an explosion occurred leading to severe consequences: 16 people lost their lives, and the health of 63 citizens was affected to varying degrees, with commercial stalls, storage areas, and vehicles being burned.

V.H. was arrested on August 26, 2022. On the same day, a petition was submitted for his detention as a preventive measure, which was approved by the General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan. However, on January 21, 2023, the General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan reviewed the investigator’s petition to extend the duration of the detention and decided to deny it.

It should also be noted that the director of Surmalu was also arrested.