YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The Kotayk provincial department of the Investigative Committee has launched a criminal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of Hayk Harutyunyan, a former Police Chief and ex-law enforcement official who was found shot dead in his summer home in Bjni, a village in Kotayk late Monday night.

Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected suicide.

The Investigative Committee said investigators found a PMS Soviet-made handgun near Harutyunyan’s body at the scene. A bullet case was also found. Witnesses have been questioned. Moreover, the Investigative Committee said they’ve reasons to believe that Harutyunyan was heavily intoxicated when the incident occurred.

“The investigation has gathered information that in the preceding period of time from the incident Hayk Harutyunyan has consumed a significant quantity of alcohol,” authorities said in a news release.

Forensic and ballistic experts are working at the scene and an autopsy is underway.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan