Seven more charged over violent unrest in Armenian town
Armenia’s Investigative Committee has pressed criminal charges against seven more people arrested in the wake of last week’s violent unrest in the northern Armenian town of Ijevan.
On 17 July a group of protesters blocked a major highway leading to the main Armenian-Georgian border crossing to protest against the government’s efforts to stop illegal logging in nearby forests.
Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators after the latter defied police orders to unblock the highway. As a result, several police officers and civilians suffered injuries and were hospitalized.
In a statement on Wednesday, the committee said the arrested men have been charged with hooliganism and violent assault on police officers. Another person is wanted by the law-enforcement agency as part of the criminal investigation.
13 people were charged earlier in connection with the violent unrest.
The statement said 10 of the suspects have been remanded in pre-trial custody, 8 of them have been set free on signature bond, while the two others have been released on bail.
The preliminary probe is underway.