Video: Criminal Prosecution Launched Against 5 Individuals for Hooliganism During Protest Outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As part of the criminal proceedings being investigated by the Main Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee, a number of circumstances regarding hooliganism committed by a group of individuals during a protest organized in front of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been established.

Specifically, within the framework of the "Tavush for the Homeland" movement, at approximately 4:00 PM on May 31, 2024, during a protest organized outside the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located at 3 Vazgen Sargsyan Street, Government House 2 in Yerevan, a group of individuals, with the direct intent to emphasize their perceived advantages and commit hooliganism, exhibited disrespect towards the public by overtly disregarding legal and moral norms. They ignored the demands of police officers to behave appropriately and not violate public order, making obscene remarks and insults, and throwing bottles and various objects towards the police officers and the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During this time, several participants in the hooliganism, complementing each other's actions, threw smoking objects at the police officers, and one of them delivered kicks toward the line of police officers, which struck the police shield held by one of the officers. As a result, the peace of individuals present at the location was disrupted, and the public event was similarly compromised.

Based on sufficient gathered evidence, criminal prosecution has been initiated against 5 participants of the described hooligan actions under the first part of Article 297, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Note: The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the criminal procedure code of the RA through a legally binding court decision.