Armenian Man Who Lost Part of Hand in 2024 Police Crackdown Now Faces Criminal Investigation After Confronting Alen Simonyan

An Armenian man who lost part of his right hand during a violent police crackdown on protesters in Yerevan last year is now under criminal investigation after confronting Security Council Secretary Alen Simonyan and demanding accountability for his injuries.

Yesayi Karamyan was among those seriously injured on June 12, 2024, when police used stun grenades and other crowd-control measures against protesters near the intersection of Baghramyan Avenue and Demirchyan Street in central Yerevan.

More than two years later, no one has been held accountable for Karamyan’s injuries, and the criminal case examining the actions of law enforcement officers remains unresolved.

Karamyan now finds himself at the center of a separate criminal investigation stemming from a brief encounter with Simonyan during Armenia’s recent parliamentary election campaign, according to reporting by Azatutyun.

Karamyan said the latest case began after he encountered Simonyan during the recent parliamentary election campaign in Yerevan’s Arabkir district.

Karamyan, who was driving with his wife and 1-year-old child, said he noticed Simonyan among a group campaigning for the ruling Civil Contract party. He lowered his car window, showed Simonyan his injured hand and asked whether he remembered what had happened to him.

“Do you remember this? You will have to answer for this,” Karamyan recalled telling him.

According to Karamyan, Simonyan initially appeared surprised before asking what he was supposed to do about the injury. Karamyan said he replied that Simonyan and others in government would have to answer for what happened.

Karamyan then continued driving. He said that less than an hour later, law enforcement officers came looking for him.

Police called him and ordered him to drive his vehicle to the Yerevan Investigative Department, Karamyan said. When he arrived, officers handcuffed and detained him. His phone and car were seized and searched.

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case that same day under a provision covering threats to kill, cause bodily harm or torture when carried out with hooligan motives or motivated by political or other views.

One or two days later, investigators also searched Karamyan’s home. He said authorities confiscated legally registered hunting weapons.

Karamyan’s attorney said investigators have not arranged a face-to-face confrontation between Karamyan and Simonyan in the three months since the incident, despite requests from the defense.

Authorities have not charged Karamyan, closed the case or sent it to court, according to his lawyer, who accused investigators of deliberately prolonging the proceedings.

“All of this clearly indicates that they are simply carrying out the orders of one individual,” the attorney said.

Simonyan has not publicly detailed what threat he says Karamyan made during their encounter.

His spokesperson said the incident occurred in a public place and falls within the jurisdiction of law enforcement authorities.

“We have no complaint regarding the matter,” the spokesperson said, adding that Simonyan did not intend to file one.

The Investigative Committee has also provided few details about the status of the case, saying only that the preliminary investigation remains underway.

The case has drawn renewed attention to Karamyan’s injuries from the June 12, 2024, demonstrations, when police deployed stun grenades against crowds near Armenia’s parliament. About 100 people were injured.

Karamyan suffered devastating injuries to his right hand after a grenade landed near his feet. He said he picked it up before it exploded in his hand. He also suffered injuries to his fingers and wrist.

Human rights advocates said at the time that police had used prohibited Zarya-3 special-purpose devices during the operation. Law enforcement authorities kept information about the equipment confidential following public criticism, according to the report.

Despite the severity of Karamyan’s injuries, authorities have not publicly identified anyone as responsible for causing them.

Karamyan’s attorney said the contrast between the two investigations is striking: The case involving his client’s life-altering injuries has remained unresolved for more than two years, while authorities moved quickly after his brief confrontation with one of Armenia’s most senior officials.

Karamyan said he has no regrets about confronting Simonyan.

He said his question remains the same: Who will be held accountable for what happened to him on June 12, 2024?

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