The Prosecutor’s Office had reported that, within the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated concerning the events that took place in Yerevan on 1–2 March 2008, on 4 September 2026, the prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against G.G., who had held the positions of Commander of the Police Troops of the Republic of Armenia and Deputy Chief of Police from 2003 until 2 July 2008, under part 2 of Article 376 of the Criminal Code adopted on 18 April 2003 (negligent attitude towards the duties, which has negligently caused serious consequences).

The criminal proceedings established that G.G., as commander, despite the fact that in 2008 there were no necessary legal acts regulating the procedure for the use of special means by the Police Troops of the Republic of Armenia, as a result of negligent attitude towards duties, failed to take measures to ensure that the units under his command were equipped with serviceable and non-expired weapons and special means and to organise their safe and proper use.

In particular, during the events that took place on 1 March 2008 in the areas adjacent to the intersection of Paronyan, St. Gregory the Illuminator and Leo Streets and Mashtots Avenue in Yerevan, G.G., both directly and through commanders subordinate to him, ordered servicemen of the Police Troops of the Republic of Armenia to fire “Cheryomukha-7” tear-gas grenades, intended for use in enclosed spaces, from “KS-23” special carbines in the direction of the demonstrators. In the absence of regulations governing the use of special means and without prior warning, expired, unserviceable and special means subject to destruction were unlawfully used. In particular, “Cheryomukha-7” tear-gas grenades intended for use in enclosed spaces were fired from “KS-23” special carbines in the direction of the demonstrators, as a result of which three participants of the demonstration died, two persons sustained serious bodily injuries, and one person sustained a moderately serious bodily injury.

On 7 October 2026, the prosecutor, with the approved indictment, referred the criminal case materials concerning G.G. to the Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction of First Instance of Yerevan.

Notice:  A person charged with any crime shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code—by the judgment came into legal force.