Argument Over Parking in Yerevan Ends in Gunfire: New Details

On February 24, 2024, the police department of the Kanaker-Zeytun district in Yerevan received a report from a 42-year-old resident and the president of a housing cooperative. The incident occurred around 5:00 PM when he confronted a resident of one of the buildings on P. Sevak Street regarding a car parked on the sidewalk curb.

During the ensuing argument, the resident's brother fired a gas pistol at him and subsequently stabbed him in the left shoulder, causing bodily harm. The Investigative Committee reports that through measures taken in connection with the incident, the identities of those who argued with the cooperative president were identified as brothers born in 1993 and 1985, residing at the same address.

A criminal case was initiated within the Kanaker-Zeytun district investigatory division of Yerevan City based on Articles 167(2)(8) and 297(3) of the RA Criminal Code. The following day, a report was also received from the brothers’ uncle living in Ararat Region, stating that during the aforementioned dispute, the cooperative president had struck him several times and brandished a pistol in his direction.

A criminal case was also initiated regarding this report under Article 195(1) of the RA Criminal Code, which was subsequently merged with the initial investigation in order to conduct a comprehensive and objective inquiry.

During the preliminary investigation, it was found that on the day of the incident, one of the brothers parked his 'Mini Cooper' vehicle on the sidewalk of their building courtyard, prompting the cooperative president to issue a warning. Following this, the president called the resident to demand he come down to the courtyard for further clarification. The individual joined in the courtyard's parking area, where an argument ensued.

Afterward, the resident informed his brother and uncle about the incident. They contacted the cooperative president to clarify the matter and agreed to meet. During the meeting, apart from the mentioned individuals, others who were not identified in the investigation were also present, and the conversation escalated into a quarrel with insults leading to a physical altercation. During this time, the cooperative president, along with the yet-to-be-identified individuals, attacked the brothers and their uncle, causing various degrees of bodily injury.

Moreover, both the cooperative president and one of the brothers exhibited disrespectful behavior towards the public, disregarding the presence of residential buildings nearby and demonstrating a blatant contempt for legal and moral norms. They fired a weapon into the air, violating community peace in a show of force, while one of the brothers also used a knife against the cooperative president’s shoulder.

As a result of necessary actions taken, the cooperative president and one of the brothers were identified and presented to the investigative body. Sufficient evidence has led to the president being charged under Articles 171(2)(5), 195(2)(5) (in two instances), and 297(3) of the RA Criminal Code, while one of the brothers faces charges under 297(3). The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are being made to identify and present the still-unknown individuals involved in the incident.