The preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on the grounds of Article 225, Parts 1, 2 and 4, Article 301 and Article 301.1, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code in connection with the incidents of civil disorder, public calls for the seizure power, violent overthrow of the constitutional order, and coercion of the RA National Assembly and the Government continues in the Investigation Department of the RA National Security Service, during which based on a body of sufficient evidence obtained, criminal prosecutions were instituted by the body carrying out the proceedings against about five dozen participants or organizers of the civil disorder. At present, arrest has been chosen as a measure of restraint against 18 of them, and with respect to the rest of the persons, non-custodial measures of restraint have been chosen.

Moreover, as a result of effective investigative and other procedural actions undertaken by the preliminary investigation body, as well as complex operative-search measures carried out in parallel with them, the identities of more than 250 persons were also identified, as well as the data of other participants of the civil disorder were clarified, upon the detection of which search and investigative works are being carried out.

It should be noted that, according to the factual data of the criminal case, it was confirmed that the participants in the civil disorder, in addition to pogroms, destruction or damage to property on an especially large scale and other actions of a similar nature, taking advantage of the situation, for mercenary motives also committed apparent theft of property in especially large amount from the offices located in the administrative building of the RA government and the Session hall, the government residence, stole the state-owned cars parked in the RA NA courtyard, some of which, as a result of the urgent investigative actions taken in the criminal case, have already been discovered and confiscated.

At the same time, the factual data at the disposal of the body carrying out the proceedings indicate that the overwhelming majority of the persons who participated in the civil disorder did not undergo compulsory military service, as well as did not participate in the hostilities that unfolded in the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020.

Moreover, the evidence obtained in a criminal case examined through due legal process of law indicates that the persons involved in the civil disorderwere recruited in advance, their presence in the buildings and structures that were the scene of the incident was mainly ensured by supporters of political forces, well-known to the public, with anti-government views and acting in the opposition field, who in a number of cases personally carried out the destruction, damage to property, called for the use of violence, carried out violent actions.

In particular, investigation established that among the persons who participated in the civil disorder, a large number were supporters of the second President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian, persons who are members of the “Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun” party, members of the “Will” initiative, the “Alternative” non-governmental organization, supporters of the Republican Party of Armenia , assistants of the former deputies of the Republican Party of Armenia and their sympathizers, defendants in various criminal cases having a public outcry, in respect of whom procedural coercion measures were applied and criminal prosecutions were initiated in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code.

The foregoing gives grounds for the body carrying out the proceedings to make reasonable statements that the real motive for the participation of these persons in the civil disorder was not due to the outcome of the Artsakh war, but to the facilitation of the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and the seizure of power in the Republic of Armenia by using this circumstance, as well as the commission outright theft of property on an especially large scale.

In the criminal case large scale operative-search and investigative actions continue to be carried out in the direction of identifying the role of the organizers of the civil disorder, revealing the full picture of the crimes committed, finding out the identities of other persons involved in this case, and the initiation of criminal prosecution against them.

At the same time, it is reported that the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia will carry out a consistent fight in the direction of preventing, disrupting and disclosing the crimes against the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the state, calling on the broad strata of the general public to show exclusively lawful behavior and not give in to provocative appeals and exhortations due to narrow personal or political motives destabilizing the internal security of the country.

Note: The suspect or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent as long as his guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.