The case of the murder of the Russian soldier Ivan Novikov found in the hinder part of 102nd Russian military base in Armenia’s Gyumri city on June 15 is currently investigated by Armenia’s Investigative Committee, Armenia’s Shirak Province Prosecutor Raffi Aslanyan told Armenian News – NEWS.am.  

“Upon the verbal order of the Committee President, Shirak Province Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee transferred the case to the Committee which later returned it to the Prosecutor General’s Office. The latter resent the case to the Investigative Committee, since the investigation hasn’t yet been completed,” Aslanyan said.

In response to the question of Armenian News – NEWS.am correspondent, Information and Public Relations Division of the Investigative Committee explained why the case is investigated by them.

“Russian Investigative Committee addressed Shirak Province Investigation Department in a written form, requesting to provide the criminal case and the corpse of the Russian soldier. The case was sent to the Prosecutor General’s Office to consider the issue of sending it to the Russian side.

Written instruction was received from Armenia’s Prosecutor General, according to which it is necessary to find out the site of the crime, all the perpetrators and complicits, and whether Armenian citizens were involved,” Investigative Committee representatives said.

Earlier, the corpse of the Russian soldier Ivan Novikov was reported to have been found near the 102nd Russian military base in Gyurmi on June 15.  

Both Russian and Armenian sides have launched a criminal case.