Teghut Administration Head and Associates Attack Police Officer in His Own Yard

Three individuals have been arrested as part of a criminal investigation initiated by the Lori Regional Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee for interfering with the lawful activities of a senior officer of the Tumanyan police department of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs, making threats against him, using violence, and committing hooliganism.

The Investigative Committee reports that on July 25, 2023, around 19:30, senior officers from the special operations unit of the RA National Police, together with officers from the Tumanyan police department, were executing their lawful duties in the Teghut community of Alaverdi when they discovered a truck marked 'ZiL-130' loaded with lumber in the yard of one of the houses. Upon finding that the truck belonged to a 28-year-old resident of the village of Odzun and that there were no documents confirming the legality of the lumber's acquisition, they required him to move the truck to the Tumanyan police department’s specially guarded area for verification procedures.

During this time, a 29-year-old male, who is the administrative head of Teghut, approached and attempted to persuade the police not to relocate the discovered lumber. When the police refused his demands and urged him not to interfere with their lawful activities, he became irate at the denial of his request and threatened violence against one of the officers with the intent to interfere in the official duties of public officials.

Later that evening, seeking retribution against the officer who did not obey him, the community head went to the officer’s home in Shnogh, where he demanded a private conversation. After being denied, he resorted to foul language while again insisting on a private discussion. Meanwhile, residents of Teghut aged 24, 22, and 40, along with an unidentified individual, arrived at the officer's yard in another vehicle.

Ignoring the police officer’s instructions to leave his property, the mentioned individuals verbally assaulted him and attacked, pulling and striking the officer multiple times, resulting in bodily injuries, which prompted intervention from the officer’s family members and neighbors.

Later that day, based on reasonable suspicion arising from the commission of a crime, three individuals were arrested and taken to the Tumanyan division of the RA National Police. A criminal case has been initiated regarding the incident, and the investigative group has been assigned to conduct the inquiry. The police officer has been recognized as a victim and has been interrogated.

During the pre-investigation process, the crime scene was examined, forensic medical and trace examinations have been ordered, and several individuals have been interrogated. Based on the evidence obtained, the 29-year-old individual has been charged under point 1 of the second part of Article 297, the first part of Article 452, and point 1 of the fourth part of Article 490 of the RA Criminal Code, the 22-year-old under the first part of Article 297 and the third part of Article 490, and the 24-year-old under the first part of Article 297.

Requests for the detention of the 29 and 22-year-olds as a preventative measure have been submitted to the court, while a travel ban has been imposed on the other individual. The investigation is ongoing, and the relevant department of the RA National Police has been instructed to conduct operational investigative measures.