During the preliminary investigation conducted by the Shirak Regional Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, evidence was obtained suggesting that officials of the Gyumri Municipality instructed several staff members to order the directors of local kindergartens to send children home and have their staff immediately go to the municipality building to prevent the mayor’s arrest, the committee reported.

As a result of these instructions, multiple kindergarten directors stopped work and, together with their staff, went to the area adjacent to the municipality and joined the gathering.

During the investigation, four individuals have been subjected to public criminal prosecution under:

  1. Article 236(2) of the Criminal Code – obstructing or coercing the holding or participation in an assembly, including materially incentivizing participation or non-participation;

  2. Article 46-486(2)(1) – inciting a group of persons, by prior agreement, to interfere with the administration of justice or the consideration of a case.

Three municipal employees have been arrested.

This criminal case has been merged with the case related to mass riots, interference with the administration of justice by a pre-agreed group, and obstruction of the lawful official duties of a public servant.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Note: A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code and by a court decision that has entered into legal force.