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YEREVAN – A shocking act of desecration has left a local family devastated and the public outraged. On November 6, 2026, a 53-year-old Yerevan resident arrived at the cemetery located near Vardashen 9th Street to continue maintenance work on the family burial plot, only to find the site looted and vandalized.
Upon inspection, the man discovered that the basalt tiles covering the graves of his grandparents and father had been ripped away and stolen. The act, which authorities are treating as a serious case of vandalism and theft, has caused significant material damage and profound emotional distress to the grieving family.
A Disturbing Response from Law Enforcement
The incident took a turn from tragic to scandalous following the arrival of the Erebuni police precinct’s community policing team. According to eyewitness accounts and reports from photojournalist Gagik Shamshyan, the senior officer in charge conducted a cursory examination of the scene before offering a remark that has sparked widespread condemnation.
Instead of launching a rigorous investigation, the officer reportedly told the victims: “If you find out where the thief or thieves are, or if you catch them, let us know so we can come and pick them up.”
This dismissive attitude has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and observers. Critics argue that such a statement is entirely unacceptable for any law enforcement agency. There are now mounting calls for the newly appointed deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Police, Arsen Voskanyan, to take decisive action against the officers involved, echoing the past sentiment that personnel displaying such negligence are unfit to wear the uniform.
Investigation Underway
Following the incident, documentation was processed at the Erebuni police station and subsequently transferred to the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, specifically the Erebuni and Nubarashen administrative district investigative department.
As of now, it remains unclear whether this act of desecration will be solved. The community is left wondering how such a brazen crime could occur in a protected cemetery, and whether the authorities have the will to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Source: ArmLur.am
