YEREVAN. – “[Armenia’s] 2012 parliamentary elections were set in history with the fire that started as a result of the explosion of balloons at [capital city Yerevan’s] Republic Square. The news about the final campaign concert of the party led by the country’s president passed beyond the country’s borders,” Hraparak daily writes. 

“Balloons are usually filled with helium gas, which is safe but relatively expensive. The investigation is continuing since May 4, and the identity of the guilty was determined only yesterday [Wednesday].

In an interview with us, Police [official] Arsen Ayvazyan told that Serob Bozoyan is charged with manufacturing and selling products not meeting safety regulations and causing harm to two or more people. Yesterday, a signature bond was specified as the restraining order against the accused, Serob Bozoyan [, 54].

According to some information, he [Bozoyan] takes small orders [for filling balloons], and we can assume he could not resist the temptation of the authorities’ [large] order that was placed,” Hraparak writes. 

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a tragedy occurred during the Republican Party of Armenia’s rally and concert held at Yerevan’s Republic Square on May 4. Hundreds of balloons filled with gas exploded and started to burn. Subsequently, the balloons’ melted rubber fell on the event participants. Those near the stage were affected the most, and 154 people were injured.

Subsequently, German plastic surgeon Adrian Daigler, who was invited to Armenia upon the instruction of President and RPA leader Serzh Sargsyan, operated on nine patients who suffered injuries from the balloon blast. And the last patient, who was injured as a result of the explosion, was discharged on July 2.