TWO MEN CHARGED IN DEADLY ROADSIDE ATTACK
By Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 9 2007

An investigation group of Armenia’s Prosecutor-General’s Office has
brought charges against two men over an attack on a group of Russian
servicemen which resulted in a fatal shooting of one Russian officer.

The crime occurred in the village of Arinj on the outskirts of Yerevan
and stemmed from a quarrel between two armed Armenians and a vehicle
carrying five Russian servicemen shortly after midnight on August
6. Two of the Russian servicemen were subjected to unmotivated beaten
before their vehicle was fired upon by the men armed with hunting
rifles, fatally wounding 22-year-old Dmitry Yermolov, who later died
on the way to hospital.

Sona Truzian, a spokesperson for the Prosecutor-General’s Office,
told RFE/RL that Artem Andreasian and Gor Balian are charged on two
counts of Armenia’s criminal code: article 118 (beating) and points
6 and 10 of part 2 of article 104 (a murder committed in a manner
dangerous for the lives of many people; for motives of hooliganism).

A Yerevan court has issued arrest warrants for both indicted men.

Several forensic examinations have been appointed, including medial,
ballistic and chemical to establish a number of circumstances in the
case that may change the volume of indictment.

Truzian confirmed that a bullet was found in the body of the killed
Russian officer but said it was yet a matter for experts to establish
which rifle it was released from.

The murder charge under article 104 envisages 8 to 15 years in prison
or a life sentence. The charge under article 118 envisages a fine of
100,000 drams (approx. $300) or two months in jail the longest.