Lawyer demands criminal investigation into death of PAP leader`s  lioness

ArmInfo.  Lawyer Zaruhi Postanjyan filed a criminal complaint with the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia, the Anti-Corruption Committee, and the  Investigative Committee regarding the death of the lioness belonging  to businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia  Party, which was confiscated by investigative bodies on July 6.

In her criminal complaint, she pointed out elements of criminality in  the investigator's actions. "I hereby inform you that on July 6,  2026, by decision of an investigator with the RA Investigative  Committee, the animals were confiscated and transported from Gagik  Tsarukyan's private home to the Yerevan Zoo. During the confiscation  operation, the animals were sedated/anesthetized, after which one of  the lionesses, a female, was taken to the zoo and fell asleep without  waking. According to the zoo's official statement, the animal had  multiple age-related and concomitant illnesses (liver, heart, and  lung disease)," Postajyan said in a statement addressed to the heads  of the aforementioned agencies. 

"I believe that the investigator's actions contain elements of a  crime based on the following considerations: disregard for the life  and safety of the animal, given that the investigator, as an  official, was obliged to ensure the safety of the investigative  operation; violation of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Armenia,  since, despite the serious health condition of the animal,  life-threatening methods were used on it (strong anesthesia and  stressful transportation), incompatible with its life and leading to  the painful death of the animal (irreversible sleep); official  negligence or abuse of power, since the investigator demonstrated  criminal negligence by failing to take into account the interests and  right to life of a living creature, as a result of which a valuable  animal was destroyed as a result of state actions; a real danger to  the life and health of other confiscated animals," Postanjyan said in  a statement published on her Facebook page.

In light of the above, and guided by the relevant provisions of  Chapter 24 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, the lawyer  demanded that the investigative authorities initiate a criminal case  to determine the legality of the actions of the investigator or  investigative team who made the decision to seize and carried it out.

Furthermore, she demanded a criminal assessment of the investigator's  actions in accordance with the article on cruelty to animals of the  Criminal Code of the Republic, as well as under articles on crimes  against officials.

"Based on the findings, determine which veterinarians or specialists  the investigator authorized to anesthetize and transport the sick  animal. Conduct an urgent investigation and determine the legality  and safety of the conditions of the other confiscated animals to  prevent possible further falls or harm to the animals," Postanjyan  further demanded.

On July 6, law enforcement officers confiscated three lions and one  tiger from Tsarukyan as part of a criminal case on "illegal hunting."  On July 7, it was reported that a lioness, anesthetized for transport  to the Yerevan Zoo, never woke up. Zoo management claimed the lioness  died because she was "of advanced age and had multiple illnesses."  Experts, however, believe the lioness's death was caused by either  malicious intent or negligence on the part of those transporting the  animals.