YEREVAN. – The Investigative Committee of Armenia very quickly completed the investigation of the criminal case into the murder of Russian soldier Ivan Novikov.

The prosecutor overseeing the case, however, has not confirmed the indictment, and returned the case to the committee.

Armenia General Prosecutor’s Office Public Relations Department confirmed this information to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

At the same time, it was clarified that, pursuant to the Armenia-Russia agreement on legal assistance matters in connection with the Russian military base deployment in Gyumri, Armenia, the Investigative Committee of Armenia is also considered a competent authority on this matter.  

Ivan Novikov, a soldier at the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, was found dead on Monday at the backside of the base. A criminal case was filed on murder charges, and an investigation was conducted. As a result, Novikov’s fellow serviceman I. Boskhomjiev was detained, and he confessed to the murder.