Investigative Committee Reveals New Details on Incident Involving Ara's Son from Noratus

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has provided new details regarding the incident involving Ara's son from Noratus, as reported by the Sevan investigative division of the Gegharkunik regional investigative department and the main investigative division for particularly important cases. The investigation has uncovered several circumstances surrounding the incident of hooliganism and the murder of 37-year-old Arsen Afiyan, including the motive.

According to the facts obtained during the investigation, on July 17, 2024, at around 21:50, 37-year-old Arsen Afiyan, a resident of Gegharkunik province, his 42-year-old wife, and two other individuals visited a restaurant located in a recreation zone on Yerevanyan Street in Sevan city, where they intended to dine. While placing an order, a 19-year-old young man identified as L.B. and a 40-year-old man M.P. emerged from a nearby cottage and demanded that they not speak loudly. The two older men responded that they were not speaking loudly.

Using this minor issue, L.B., M.P., and an unidentified man approached the outdoor area of the restaurant where they encountered Arsen Afiyan and his companions. In an attempt to assert their alleged superiority and create fear amongst others present, they initiated a mutual scuffle and argument, ignoring other customers and employees of the recreational area. They exchanged insults, shouted, and physically struck each other.

When M.P. saw the 42-year-old man draw a slick pistol, he knocked him to the ground. Then, illegally seizing the slick firearm, with the intent to cause bodily harm, he fired shots at the 42-year-old man, inflicting moderate injuries before taking the slick pistol from him and placing it in his waistband. Subsequently, M.P. fired at a security employee of the recreational zone, causing life-threatening injuries. To ultimately kill Arsen Afiyan, he then shot at him, causing injuries incompatible with life.

The fighting and mutual brawling ceased due to the intervention of other individuals present. The aforementioned actions disrupted the normal operation of the recreational zone, causing physical and mental distress to customers and employees, inducing feelings of panic and fear among them.

Based on sufficient evidence obtained, M.P. has been charged under Article 155, Part 2, Subpoint 7; Article 166, Part 2, Subpoints 4 and 6; Article 167, Part 2, Subpoints 6 and 8; Article 297, Part 2, Subpoint 1; and Article 335, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The 19-year-old L.B. has been charged under Article 297, Part 2, Subpoint 1 of the Criminal Code. A request has been submitted to the court to select detention as a preventive measure for the two individuals, which has been satisfied. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.