Details on Gurgen Arsenyan's Interrogation Regarding the Explosives Placed Near His Office

The newspaper "Zhoghavorud" has revealed details about the interrogation of Gurgen Arsenyan, a member of the National Assembly from the "Civil Contract" faction, at the RA Investigative Committee. Arsenyan's interrogation lasted about an hour, during which he answered the investigator's questions regarding his acquaintance with the individuals arrested in the case, stating that he does not know them and has never recognized them.

According to the newspaper, what is most striking is that this criminal case is being investigated by the investigative officers transferred from the National Security Service (NSS).

Based on the information received, the next to be summoned to the RA Investigative Committee will be fellow faction member Gagik Melkonyan, whose yard was reportedly targeted for an explosive device, although it was accidentally thrown into his neighbor's yard.

It should be noted that yesterday, a correspondent from ArmLur.am observed Gurgen Arsenyan entering the Investigative Committee. ArmLur.am learned that he was interrogated in connection with the criminal proceedings regarding the placement of explosives near his office.

It is noteworthy that those detained for placing explosives near the office of the "Civil Contract" party and the founder of the "United Labor Party", Gurgen Arsenyan, do not accept the charges raised against them. One of the detained individuals is Gagik Sargsyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Vahan Hovhannisyan.

The RA Investigative Committee had determined that on February 20, 2024, to intimidate members and supporters of the "Civil Contract" party, a citizen went to the vicinity of the "United Labor Party" office located at 33 Gulbenkian Street and placed about 1 kilogram of TNT and pentalite under a tree on the sidewalk 9 meters from the office at 03:50 AM, using certain measures for concealment and not to be detected. The self-made explosive device was intended to cause destruction, take lives, and completely devastate surrounding buildings.

At the same time, a similar self-made explosive device was placed near the entrance of the "Civil Contract" party's territorial office at 30/3 Gulbenkian Street, thus creating a real threat of explosion and fire combined with endangering civilian lives, causing heavy or moderate bodily harm, significant property damage, and other severe consequences.

Fortunately, the explosive devices placed by V.H. did not detonate, and the aforementioned consequences did not occur by accident due to the malfunctioning of the activation mechanism of the homemade explosives.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against four individuals under various provisions of the RA Criminal Code, including for committing terrorism, and all are currently detained,” reports the newspaper.