At 8:40 p.m. on May 25, 2003 in Precinct #24 in the village of Shahumyan, local resident Vrezh Avetisyan was killed, and the Local Election Commission chairwoman and an Ardarutiun (Justice) Bloc proxy were wounded in a shooting.

The department of public relations of the Republican Police put out a press-release which reads: “At about 9:05 p.m. on May 25th, we received a report from the Ararat Marz Police that sub-machine gun fire was heard in the village of Shahumyan.

“An operative group was sent to the spot and found that at about 8:40 p.m. Tarzan Yenokyan, a resident of the village of Shahumyan, saw Vrezh Avetissyan, with whom he had an argument earlier in the day, in the yard of the local school, and without saying anything opened fire in his direction.

“Avetisyan was killed, head of the Shahumyan village administration Nver Karapetyan, chairman of the Local Election Commission of Polling Station #06/52 located in the school building Roza Avetisyan, and Ardarutiun Bloc proxy Rafik Ohanyan were wounded.”

The policeman on duty in the polling station opened fire and wounded Tarzan Yenokyan, and confiscated an AK submachine gun. A criminal investigation has been launched.