Three Individuals Assault Police Officers Near the Dendropark, Spray One in the Face

The Lori Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of an incident where a group of residents from Gyulagarak intervened in the lawful activities of police officers.

As part of the initiated criminal proceedings regarding the incident, several details have been clarified, including the identities of the individuals involved, who are 24, 41, 23, and 34 years old residents of Gyulagarak.

According to available information, on June 4, 2023, at around 17:00, a 24-year-old resident from Gyulagarak, while under the influence of alcohol, attempted to enter the territory of the Dendropark Botanical Garden with fellow villagers in a "Lada 2170" vehicle. However, police officers from the Patrol Service of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs prohibited the vehicle from continuing its route to the botanical garden.

After parking the vehicle near the access road to the garden, the 24-year-old and his companions approached the police officers for clarification. Suspecting that the young man was driving under the influence, the officers carried out an identification check. In response, the individuals intervened in the police officers’ activities, threatening those performing their legal duties and assaulting one of them.

To prevent the unlawful actions of the individuals, one of the officers sprayed pepper spray at a 34-year-old man, after which the individuals tugged at the police officers. One of them then turned the pepper spray canister against the officer and sprayed it in his face.

Seeing that the 24-year-old continued his aggressive behavior and was not complying with the given demands, one of the officers attempted to arrest him. In response, a 41-year-old man pushed the officer, causing him to fall to the ground, and the 24-year-old took the opportunity to flee the scene. He was later found and presented to the investigative authority.

Based on the gathered evidence, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against three of the individuals involved pursuant to part 3 of Article 452 of the RA Criminal Code. They have been arrested on the basis of reasonable suspicion of having committed a crime, and charges have been presented against them. A petition has been submitted to the court to select detention as a measure of restraint for them, which has been granted for two of them and denied for one, for whom the measure of restraint has been set as a prohibition on leaving the country.

The investigation is ongoing.