In the past two days, Armenia reported 27 cases of alcohol poisoning, with 14 reported deaths already. Most of the victims were residents of Armavir, a town 46 kilometres west of Yerevan and it was reported that the ingestion of home-made vodka was the source of their intoxication. 

A 50-year-old man identified as Ashot Hovsepyan was arrested on suspicion of illegally producing and selling the alcohol involved in the alcohol poisoning and deaths. Armenia’s Investigative Committee said it is now trying to identify other people who have bought alcohol from Hovsepyan. The law-enforcement agency urged them to avoid drinking it and to cooperate with investigators. The Ministry of Health also reported efforts to “ascertain the circle of consumers of the alcoholic beverage” sold by the suspect. Health authorities have taken samples of the beverage to determine its chemical composition through laboratory tests, said the ministry.

Another alcohol-related tragedy bestowed Armenia as on 31 August as an explosion of a brandy factory in the Armenian village of Proshyan took the life of the Armavir branch director Levon Alexanyan and and leaving 4 severely injured from burns.