YEREVAN. – Criminal charges have been brought against a resident of Abovyan city, along the lines of the criminal case which the Investigative Committee of Armenia is investigating on charges of using violence against a representative of the authorities, and obstruction of justice and investigation.

Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the information and public relations division of the aforesaid committee that this man has been arrested.

This person is the bodyguard of former MP, businessman Melik Manukyan—a.k.a. Shshi (glass bottle) Melo. He had unlawfully removed the Range Rover—reportedly belonging to Manukyan—from the scene of last week’s explosion on the Yerevan-Sevan motorway, and fled the scene.  

A criminal case was opened in connection with this incident.

The respective investigation found out that the suspect in this incident was an Abovyan resident born in 1976.

Sometime thereafter, he was found and detained on suspicion of using violence against a representative of the authorities, and obstruction of justice and investigation.

The said Range Rover was found, too.

Criminal charges were brought against him, and the court granted the investigator’s petition to remand him in custody.

The investigation is still in progress.

As reported earlier, and explosive device was placed under a bridge on the Yerevan-Sevan highway, and it was detonated on August 2 at about 12:30pm while a Range Rover and Nissan Patrol accompanying it were passing over that bridge. Both cars sustained damages.

According to reports, the aforesaid Range Rover belongs to Melik Manukyan.

A glass container manufacturing plant belonging to Manukyan is located in the vicinity of the said blast.

There were no casualties and injuries in the incident.