Murder in Parakar with Explosive Device Placed Under Car: Investigation Completed for 5 Defendants

The investigation into the murder of a 36-year-old resident of the Armavir region, which occurred on June 23, 2022, has been completed regarding five defendants. This information was reported on the official website of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

The main investigation department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia conducted extensive investigative and procedural actions, which established that a 33-year-old man known as 'Tokhmakhzi Yuro' reached an agreement with a 37-year-old resident of Yerevan and a group of individuals regarding the murder of the 36-year-old resident of Armavir region.

In the framework of this agreement and through his accomplices, the 33-year-old man acquired mobile cards, items, and devices necessary for the commission of the crime, as well as a homemade explosive device. On the night of June 21-22, 2022, he rented a 'Toyota Camry' vehicle from an acquaintance.

On the same day, at 03:14, the members of the criminal group drove to the village of Parakar in the Armavir region using that vehicle. They circled various streets of the village until 04:34, passing by the 36-year-old man's house three times. Seeing his brother and a friend in front of the house, they postponed the placement of explosives and other equipment.

To facilitate the execution of their criminal intention and to eliminate the possibility of the crime being uncovered, unidentified members of the group stole the registration plates from a parked 'Mercedes Benz' in the yard of a building on the third district of Masis city around 02:00 on June 23, 2022, and installed them on their rented 'Toyota Camry.'

On the same day, at 03:42, the 37-year-old resident of Yerevan and the 33-year-old man drove to the village of Parakar with the aforementioned vehicle, illegally transporting the explosive device as well as the necessary equipment for its activation and monitoring the victim's movements.

Upon reaching the location at 04:22, the two men parked the vehicle near the victim's house, walked toward the house, and placed the homemade explosive device under the front left seat of the victim's 'VAZ 21214' vehicle, which was parked on the street in front of the house. To monitor the victim's movements and ensure his murder was executed without fail, they secured a remote surveillance device on a metal pole located 20 meters from the house.

Members of the criminal group monitored the entrance to the victim's house via the surveillance device installed near it. At around 11:00 on June 23, 2022, when the 36-year-old man exited his house and drove toward Nairi Street, the criminal group activated the explosive device placed on the vehicle remotely after he had traveled approximately 100 meters. The explosion resulted in injuries incompatible with life due to shrapnel wounds and thermal burns, and the man died after being transported to a medical center.

Based on sufficient evidence, charges were brought against the person known as 'Tokhmakhzi Yuro' and the 37-year-old resident of Yerevan under parts 6 and 7 of Article 104 and Article 235, part 2 of the previous Criminal Code of Armenia, which corresponds to parts 7 and 8 of Article 155 and part 2 of Article 335 of the current Criminal Code. Three other members of the criminal group were charged with assisting the criminal acts committed by these two individuals. All of the mentioned defendants have been detained.

The investigation has been completed for them, and the materials of the criminal case, along with the indictment conclusion, have been sent to the court. The investigation is still ongoing regarding other members of the criminal group.

Notice: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court decision that has entered into legal force in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.