On September 23, at around 23:50, the police of Armenia received a report that shots had been fired on the Yerevan Highway in the Merdzavan community, Ministry of Internal Affairs’ spokesperson Narek Sargsyan told reporters today.

“Police task forces immediately arrived at the scene. It turned out that two people died: the head of the Parakar enlarged community, Volodya Grigoryan, [and] our colleague, Ararat Province criminal police officer Karen Abrahamyan, and we had one injured, Artsrun Galstyan, who was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery.

“At the moment, according to our information, his life is not in danger. The injured person is not a police officer. The police officer was on friendly terms with the head of the community, he was just standing there, he was not on duty.

After receiving the report, police task forces arrived at the scene, led by the Minister of Internal Affairs. At the moment, the Minister of Internal Affairs is in the Vagharshapat [city] department and is leading the work. Police task forces are currently carrying out investigative and all necessary measures to clarify all the circumstances of the incident. There are hundreds of police officers in this area at the moment,” Sargsyan added.

To the question of whether people or cars are visible in the available videos, Narek Sargsyan replied: “Video cameras have been decoded, at the moment the entrances and exits of the [Armenian] republic are being inspected, there are cars that have been impounded. That is, quite large, extensive work is being carried out. Also, interviews are being conducted with people.”

Speaking about the suspects, Sargsyan said: “According to preliminary information, a masked person with gloves approached three people standing here, opened fire, as a result of which two were killed and one was injured.”

When asked what actions are being taken to prevent a further bloody situation, since this is not the first case in Merdzavan village, and it is also noted that one of the theories is a vendetta, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia responded: “It is too early to speak definitively about any theory at this time. All the theories put forward are being discussed. Certain actions were taken after a previously publicized crime committed here. I believe there will be an opportunity for us to talk about this. But I assure [you] that for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for the police, for our other law enforcement partner structures, believe [me], this is a matter of principle, so that all the circumstances of the incident are clarified.

I can confidently say that if it turns out that there were circumstances during which some people failed—that is, it was possible to prevent such incidents with certain actions—be sure that they will bear their accountability accordingly.”

The family members of the murdered people are in a safe place at the moment, Sargsyan added.

“The police, within the framework of these extensive measures I mentioned, have also set up checkpoints in certain places so that there are no possible continuations at this very moment, too. All of that is also being implemented within that framework,” Narek Sargsyan added.

Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that on Tuesday at 11:52pm, the Police of Armenia received a call that shots were fired on the Yerevan Highway in Merdzavan village of Armavir Province; there are two casualties and one injured. One of the deceased is the head of Parakar enlarged community, Volodya Grigoryan.

The second person killed is a police officer, Karen Abrahamyan, an employee of the Ararat Province Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was not on duty at the time of the murder; he was a friend of Volodya Grigoryan.

The incident took place right in front of Volodya Grigoryan’s house. One person was injured as a result of the shooting, but information about his identity is not yet known.

There are cameras at the scene of the murder, which, according to Sargsyan, have been confiscated.

Before the local government elections in Parakar, on February 5, a murder took place in Merdzavan. An attack was carried out on the house of the administrative head Mher Akhtoyan, as a result of which the Akhtoyans' cousin's son, 29-year-old Grigor Ohanyan, was killed, and a family friend was injured. Volodya Grigoryan's brother, 37-year-old Paykar Grigoryan, was detained within the framework of the criminal case.