YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: According to the information received by Zhoghovurd daily, the RA Investigative Committee received only a month ago the expert conclusion on the case into the fire that broke out at the Surmalu shopping center [in Yerevan] last year—on April 6, 2021.

The professional conclusion confirmed that the management of the shopping center did not observe the safety rules.

(…) The Investigative Committee was able to get the conclusion on the fire that happened last year, a month before the August 14 explosion and the subsequent fire [at the Surmalu shopping center].

According to the news that reached Zhoghovurd daily, the director and the security guard of the shopping center will sit in the chair of the accused in the near future.

Zhoghovurd daily asked the RA Investigative Committee to clarify the information it received. In response, they informed us: "A criminal case has been opened (...) regarding the incident of the fire that broke out at the Surmalu shopping center last year. During the investigation, it was found that a number of fire safety norms were not observed in the said shopping center. The investigation is continuing."

Unpunished crime gave birth to a new, more catastrophic crime.