Posthumous charges filed against ex-police chief

PanARMENIAN.Net - As part of the criminal proceedings into the March 1–2, 2008 events, the prosecutor has initiated posthumous public criminal prosecution against former Chief of the Police of the Republic of Armenia, Hayk Harutyunyan.

He is accused of aiding and abetting the abuse of official authority and official negligence that, according to the charges, resulted in grave consequences, the Investigative Committee reported.

According to the statement, on April 18, 2026, acting on his own initiative, the prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against the former police chief under Article 38-309, Part 2 of the 2003 Criminal Code (aiding and abetting a public official in exceeding official authority, accompanied by the use of violence, weapons or special means) and Article 315, Part 2 (official negligence resulting through negligence in a person's death or other grave consequences).

The investigation found that Harutyunyan, who served as Chief of the Police under the Government of Armenia from 2003 until May 29, 2008, while exercising overall command of the police, exceeded his official authority on March 1, 2008. Acting in concert with other senior police officials, he allegedly organized the dispersal of the peaceful protest taking place in Freedom Square in Yerevan through violence and the use of special means by various police units, forcibly removed demonstrators from the square, and subsequently prevented gatherings, demonstrations and public assemblies in central parts of the city. According to the prosecution, these actions caused substantial harm to the rights and lawful interests of individuals, as well as to the lawful interests of society and the state.

The second charge against Harutyunyan is based on the allegation that, as head of the state police authority, he was required to submit draft regulations and proposals concerning police operations to the Armenian government, including rules governing the use of "Cheremukha-7" tear gas, "Zarya" stun grenades and other special means. According to investigators, he failed to fulfill that duty.

Since Harutyunyan died in 2019, the decision to initiate public criminal prosecution against him was handed to his legal representative, his wife.

Harutyunyan's wife objected to terminating the criminal prosecution on the grounds of the defendant's death.

"The supervising prosecutor has returned the materials of criminal case No. 62292726, separated from criminal case No. 62202608, to the body conducting the proceedings—the Anti-Corruption Committee—for measures aimed at completing the pretrial investigation with an indictment," the Investigative Committee said.

Notice: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court judgment that has entered into legal force in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code.