Five Participants of Protest Arrested on Suspicion of Apparent Hooliganism

The police received a report regarding a protest held on May 16, 2024, near the Government building of Armenia, during which several participants allegedly committed hooliganism. This was announced by the Investigative Committee.

Specifically, one participant, identified as V.Ch., the founder of the "Will" initiative, entered into a dispute with another citizen who expressed disagreement about the protest taking place in that area. Subsequently, showing a disrespectful attitude towards society and openly disregarding legal and moral norms, while ignoring the presence of police officers tasked with maintaining public order, V.Ch. and several other participants of the protest began to pull and insult the mentioned citizen with offensive language.

The actions ceased only upon the intervention of police officers, and five participants of the protest were taken to the police station. A criminal case was initiated at the Investigative Committee of Armenia based on the features outlined in Article 297, Part 2, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code. A decision was made to arrest V.Ch. and four others based on well-founded suspicion of committing hooliganism in a group.

The circumstances of the case are being clarified during the preliminary investigation.

Note: A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict that has come into legal force in accordance with the procedural law of the Republic of Armenia.