Prosecution Initiated Against Participants of Mass Disorders in Baghramyan; Arrests Made

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has reported that a criminal case has been initiated regarding the mass disorder that occurred during a protest on June 12, 2024, at the intersection of Baghramyan and Demirchyan streets in Yerevan. Large-scale investigative and procedural actions are currently underway to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

According to the Investigative Committee, during the preliminary investigation conducted by the Main Division for Particularly Important Cases, factual data has been obtained indicating that, around 7:30 PM on June 12, 2024, a group of participants in the protest disregarded the legal orders of police officers stationed to maintain public order and had attempted to breach the barrier formed by the police, throwing bottles and various objects at the police lines.

To prevent further such actions, the Police of Armenia employed special measures after providing prior warnings. However, certain participants continued to disregard police commands, exhibiting blatant disrespect towards the public and ignoring legal and moral norms, while also displaying a flagrant disregard for social order rules, resulting in acts of hooliganism.

Specifically, they disrupted public peace by hurling stones, wooden sticks, bottles, and fireworks at police officers, while also damaging the metal railings of a nearby park. Investigators conducted inspections of the scene and collected various sizes of stone fragments, broken glass containers, sharp wooden sticks, and other items of significance to the investigation.

Items found included a dislodged piece of railing separating the Lovers' Park area from the sidewalk along Baghramyan Street, its broken and damaged segments, parts of circular metal objects, broken street light components, and traces resembling blood. Several audiovisual recordings from the internet were reviewed as part of the investigation.

As a result of these actions, the activities of 12 identified participants involved in the aforementioned criminal acts have been individualized. Based on the gathered evidence, the prosecuting body has submitted motions to the supervising prosecutor to initiate public criminal prosecutions against one participant for mass disorder and against 11 others for hooliganism committed in a group, which have been approved.

Following the motions presented to the court, 11 out of 12 defendants have been arrested and appropriate charges have been brought against them. After court hearings regarding the presented motions, pre-trial detention was chosen as a measure for 8 individuals, while house arrest was designated for two others. One individual has been placed under a restriction against leaving without permission.

Furthermore, an order has been given to the Police to arrest and present another individual charged with hooliganism committed in a group. Necessary investigative, procedural, and operational measures aimed at identifying participants in the mass disturbances, individualizing actions, and providing legal assessments of all actions are still ongoing.