BBC reveals documents on 2008 Armenia unrest indicating Karabakh unit involvement for lethal force

BBC Russia has published an article claiming it has obtained “exclusive access” to investigative documents into the ongoing March 1 probe.

The March 1 probe is an ongoing criminal investigation in Armenia into the deadly 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan which left 10 people dead. Robert Kocharyan, who is currently arrested and is going through a trial on charges of bribery and overthrowing constitutional order, was the outgoing president at that time. The 2008 protests erupted after Serzh Sargsyan was officially announced to have defeated Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the election. Protesters were claiming that the elections were rigged. The events are known as the “March 1” events because it was on March 1, 2008 when police troops violently dispersed a rally in central Yerevan.

In the article, BBC called March 1 “one of the most tragic events in Armenia’s modern history”.

According to the BBC, the documents which it has obtained indicate that Major General Samvel Karapetyan (Oganovsky) was responsible for ordering troops to open fire on protesters.

According to the BBC, the investigation documents also include the names of two former presidents and two influential businessmen-lawmakers. BBC says the documents indicate that investigators believe that the troops who fired on protesters were brought to Yerevan from Karabakh under the command of the abovementioned major-general, who is a witness in the current March 1 case. The BBC states that according to the documents the major-general’s men were temporarily stationed at the basement of the Presidential Palace.

According to the report the detectives are currently investigating a possible role of Gagik Tsarukyan and Samvel Alexanyan, two influential businessmen-politicians, who may have funded the Karabakh troops in Yerevan.

The report hasn’t yet been confirmed or denied by authorities.