The Yerevan City Prosecutor's Office received and studied the materials of the criminal case initiated on the fact of the explosion in the Surmalu shopping center, which occurred on August 14 this year at 15 Arshakunyats Avenue in Yerevan, and was investigated in the Division of Investigation of Grave Crimes of the Investigative Department of the city of Yerevan of the RA Investigative committee. As a result of the study, based on the facts of the materials of the criminal case, testifying to the commission of a crime by persons, on 25.08.2022, the prosecutor supervising the legality of criminal proceedings, on his own initiative issued a decision on initiating a public criminal prosecution against two persons under part 2 of Article 357 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (Article 357: Violation of the rules or requirements of fire safety, resulting in the death of a person or other grave consequences through negligence).

 

The resolutions were sent to the investigator and instructions were given to bring charges against the indicated persons within the time period established by law and to submit to the court a petition for choosing a measure of restraint in the form of detention. In addition, when studying the materials of the criminal proceedings, it was also established that the available facts indicate that there are sufficient grounds for initiating public criminal prosecution against two more persons under Part 2 of Article 165 of the RA Criminal Code (Article 165: Deprivation of life of two or more persons through negligence) Therefore, the investigator was instructed to initiate criminal proceedings also under Article 165 of the RA Criminal Code and to carry out procedural actions aimed at initiating criminal prosecution against those responsible for this.

 

On the same day, the investigator initiated a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 165 of the RA Criminal Code, and petitions were submitted to the prosecutor to initiate public criminal prosecution against the indicated persons, which were satisfied.

 

Already on 26.08.2022 four persons were detained: two - under part 2 of article 357 of the RA Criminal Code, two - under part 2 of article 165 of the RA Criminal Code. Additional information will be provided on the details of the preliminary investigation in criminal proceedings.

 

Notice: Every person suspected in or charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent unless proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code and unless the verdict comes into legal force.