Criminal Proceedings Initiated for Public Call to Violence via Social Media

A report has been received concerning a post made on the social media page of one of the apparent supporters of protest actions taking place in the republic. The post included statements about beating, humiliating, expelling numerous individuals, stripping them of their Armenian passports, and killing them in prisons after a possible change of government.

This information has been reported by the Investigative Committee.

Considering that the mentioned post contains public calls to violence against an individual or a group of individuals based on political or other views, or personal or social circumstances, using mass media or informational and communicational technologies, a criminal investigation has been initiated under the third part of Article 330 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. This includes public justification or incitement of such violence, as well as disseminating materials or objects for such purposes.

Measures are being taken to identify the author of the post and to provide a legal assessment of their actions.

Notice: A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, with a legally binding judgment by the court.