Seven Individuals Arrested in Tavush

An investigation is underway in the Novoberian Investigation Division of the Tavush Regional Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee regarding the circumstances of committing acts of hooliganism during the obstruction of an interstate highway in the village of Victory, Tavush region.

On April 21, 2024, at approximately 15:50, the interstate highway was blocked by three members of the "Combat Brotherhood" organization and a group of other citizens in the "Vodkhoz" area of the village of Victory, Novoberian community, towards the settlement of Bagratashen. During this time, a resident of the village of Ayrium demanded that the road be opened and proceeded with his "UAZ" vehicle, but the citizens, obstructing the movement of vehicles, did not allow it.

The gathered crowd exhibited an openly contemptuous attitude towards legal and moral norms, violating public peace and accompanying their actions with insults. During this incident, an individual identified as A. P. and an unidentified group of citizens struck and broke the windshield of the "UAZ" vehicle with their hands. The police attempted to prevent these visible hooligan actions, but these individuals fled the scene.

In connection with the incident, on April 21, 2024, a criminal case was initiated at the Novoberian Investigation Division of the RA Investigative Committee under the provisions of Article 297, Part 2, Point 1, and Article 264, Part 2, Points 1 and 5 of the RA Criminal Code.

After the road was cleared, at around 16:30, one of the participants in the hooliganism, identified as M. A., got into a dispute with G. Danielyan, a member of the National Assembly from the "Armenian Alliance" faction, in the "Vodkhoz" area. During this confrontation, M. A. grossly violated public order, insulted, and struck G. Danielyan on the road, causing bodily harm.

Regarding this incident, on April 21, 2024, a new criminal case was initiated at the Novoberian Investigation Division of the RA Investigative Committee under the provisions of Article 297, Part 1, and Article 195, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. This investigation was combined with the earlier criminal case to conduct a joint inquiry. An investigation team has been formed.

On April 21, seven members of the "Combat Brotherhood" public organization were arrested based on immediate and reasonable suspicions of having committed crimes, following the appropriate decisions of the prosecuting authority. The pre-trial investigation continues, and measures are being taken to clarify all significant circumstances of the incidents and to provide legal assessments of the actions of the parties involved.