Investigative Committee Details Garik Galeyan's Arrest: What Was Found in His Possession

On September 6, 2023, at 19:30, Garik Galeyan was arrested by the officers of the RA Ministry of Internal Affairs, based on reasonable suspicion of illegally acquiring, possessing, and distributing narcotics, from Vardanants Street in Yerevan. He was transported to the police station in a Toyota Camry vehicle he was driving. This information was provided by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

During a personal search of Galeyan, a polyethylene bag was found and confiscated, containing three similar polyethylene packages, weighing 1.59 grams, 1.51 grams, and 1.60 grams respectively, filled with a greenish substance resembling marijuana with a distinctive odor. According to the conclusion from the forensic center of the police, the substance found in his possession is classified as marijuana.

On the same day, a criminal case was initiated based on Part 1 of Article 393 of the RA Criminal Code, which was consolidated with an earlier proceeding initiated by the Investigative Committee's division for serious crimes in Yerevan regarding Article 195, Part 2, point 5 and Article 297, Part 2, point 1 of the RA Criminal Code. A decision to arrest G. Galeyan was made by the conducting authority on September 6.

Previously, the Investigative Committee informed that on June 30, 2022, at approximately 13:50, during a demonstration conducted by the parents of fallen soldiers in front of the RA Prosecutor General's Office on V. Sargsyan Street, Garik Galeyan, along with his brother and several others, grossly violated public order with direct intent. They exhibited disrespectful behavior toward society, taking advantage of the situation where D.S., who was filming a documentary in front of the Prosecutor General's Office, was not adhering to their demands to stop filming. Galeyan demonstratively poured the contents of a bottle over D.S.'s head, intending to humiliate him in front of demonstrators, journalists, and police. Following this, together with his brother and several individuals, they verbally assaulted D.S., tore his shirt, and inflicted multiple blows to various parts of his body.

For these criminal acts, Galeyan was charged under Part 1 of Article 195 and Part 1 of Article 297 of the RA Criminal Code. An absence restriction measure was applied to him.

Based on the factual data obtained during the preliminary investigation of the connected case, on September 8, 2023, Galeyan was charged with new accusations under Part 1 of Article 393 and Part 2 of Article 297 of the RA Criminal Code.

The conducting authority submitted a motion to the court to choose detention as a measure of restraint, considering that he violated the conditions of his release.

The preliminary investigation continues in the division for serious crimes of the Investigative Committee of Yerevan. It is reminded that Garik Galeyan was arrested today. The spokesman for the Investigative Committee confirmed the information but did not provide details regarding the circumstances, promising to release further information later.

The lawyer stated that Galeyan is charged with drug possession. He mentioned that his client does not accept the presented charges and considers it political persecution.

It was also reported that the house of Mikitar Galeyan's parents, who was killed in the 44-day war, is being searched. Later, the lawyer informed that the search of Garik Galeyan’s house, the father of Mikitar Galeyan, who died in the 44-day war, was completed; an illegally obtained flag of Artsakh, the emblem of RA with the picture of Mount Ararat, an Armenian Apostolic cross, and a certificate from Hayakve were found in little Mikitar's cradle.