New Details: Suspect Identified in Journalist's Drowning Case

The investigation into the case of journalist Armine Jagharyan's death in the Debed River continues, as announced by the Investigative Committee.

The Lory Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee has revealed significant circumstances regarding the incident, including the cause of the victim's death. Investigators have obtained evidence, including a conclusion from the appointed expert examination, indicating that the director of a company providing rafting services violated the requirements of the interstate standard GOST 12.0.004-2015 'Occupational Safety Training: General Provisions', approved by the director of the National Standardization and Metrology Body on November 11, 2016.

Specifically, during the rafting on the Debed River, the director organized an inflatable rubber boat navigation service using amateur personnel as rafting team members, without properly appointing a responsible person to act as the instructor. Before arranging the rafting for Armine Jagharyan, the required written training and briefings related to rafting safety instructions were not conducted, and no safety knowledge checks or instructions regarding the use of the raft were performed.

As a result, at approximately 3:30 PM on May 9, 2022, during navigation at the third kilometer of the Kobayr-Sanahin section of the Debed River, the inflatable rubber boat capsized after hitting a rock, causing Armine Jagharyan to fall into the river.

During the investigation, a forensic examination of the body revealed that the cause of death was mechanical asphyxia due to drowning, caused by the respiratory tract being blocked by liquid. Based on sufficient evidence obtained, public criminal proceedings have been initiated against the company’s director, and charges have been filed under Part 2, Clause 3 of Article 279 of the former Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, corresponding to Part 2, Clause 2 of Article 412 of the current Criminal Code (Issuing or selling products that do not comply with safety requirements, performing work or providing services that negligently caused a person's death).

The investigation is ongoing.