The RA Investigative Committee has informed that within the framework of the criminal proceedings initiated in several subdivisions of the RA Investigative Committee on criminal acts allegedly committed by the persons involved in mass assemblies, marches that have started in Yerevan since September 19, criminal prosecution was initiated against 49 persons.

Criminal prosecution was initiated against 39 of them for involvement in mass disorder, against 4 – for making public calls for public disorder, against 2 – for committing hooliganism in a group and against others for allegedly committing other various crimes.

Motions were submitted to court by the investigative body to choose detention as a pretrial measure against 39 of those under criminal prosecution. As of 16:00, September 24, in the result of sufficing the motions by the courts 29 persons have already been detained. Several motions on using detention as a pretrial measure are still in the process of discussion.

Preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings on crimes allegedly committed by the persons involved in the mass disorder in Yerevan is ongoing in the subdivisions of the RA Investigative Committee. The actions aimed at personalizing the criminal acts committed by numerous persons involved in mass disorder, identifying them, arresting and bringing to the investigative body are ongoing within the framework of the proceedings.

The RA Investigative Committee reminds that holding mass assemblies must correspond to the requirements defined by the RA Law “On Freedom of Assembly”. Pursuant to the mentioned law, it is forbidden to use the freedom of assembly for the purposes of violent overthrow of the constitutional order, violence and their propaganda. And the participants of the assembly are obliged not to carry weapons or objects used as weapons during the assembly, to follow the instructions on maintaining order, to refrain from such actions aimed at hindering the normal course of the assembly.

The Article 327 of RA Criminal Code defines that participating in mass disorder threatening public safety accompanied with violence, or committing other committals endangering the life or health of the person, arson, destruction or damage to property, using fire-arms, explosives or explosive devices, or organizing or leading those actions, is punished with imprisonment for the term of 4 to 8 years.