Authorities Identify Individuals Who Discharged Firearms on New Year's Eve

On January 9, a video surfaced online showing a young man firing shots from a window of a house. This was reported by the National Police of Armenia (NPA).

Violating public order, displaying disrespect towards the community, and disturbing public peace are considered hooliganism. Officers from the NPA's Guard Service and community police of Nairi have conducted measures leading to the identification of a 26-year-old resident from Karashamb village in Kotayk Province, who discharged firearms from his house window on New Year's Eve. He has been arrested and taken to the police station, where he admitted to firing shots with a sound signal pistol.

On January 12, a video posted on Facebook showed a resident of Verin Tsaghkavan village in Tavush Province randomly firing from an automatic gun in his backyard. The community police of Tavush arrested the citizen on the same day and took him to the station. He confessed to shooting on New Year's Eve with his uncle’s hunting shotgun.

A similar video was also circulated on TikTok. Authorities from the Community Police Chief Directorate and Artashat division established that on New Year’s Eve, three men in Baghramyan village of Ararat Province fired one shot each from hunting smoothbore guns, violating public order. As a result of explanatory work, the owner of the firearm reported to the police station and gave a confession statement to the investigative body.

On January 12, operational information received by the Taroni community police was acted upon in collaboration with regional criminal police. According to the informant, on New Year’s Eve, two young men, ages 24 and 26, from Vanadzor city, fired several shots into the air from two firearms registered in the name of the 24-year-old. The young men were arrested and presented to the Lori regional investigative department with the prepared documents.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated in all cases.