Within the criminal proceeding initiated on the case of fire broken out in “Surmalu” trade center on April 6, 2021 and the case of explosion and collapse in the same trade center on August 14, 2022 combined and investigated in the Division of Investigation of Grave Crimes of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee, on February 22, 2023 the director of “Yerevan Cannery” CJSC I.M. was arrested.

On the base of the criminal proceeding initiated by the prosecutor charge was pressed against the latter by the investigative body according to the Part 2 of the Article 357 and the Part 1 of the Article 457 of RA Criminal Code that is violating fire safety rules or requirements and document forgery.

A motion was submitted to court to use detention as a pretrial measure against I.M for 2 months. It was sufficed.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Within the framework of the mentioned proceeding there are 5 accused – the director, deputy director of “Yerevan Cannery” CJSC and three business owners in whose warehouse the explosion occurred. Currently one person is under custody.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.