Participants of a rally in support of Russia near the embassy in Yerevan. File photoYEREVAN, Aug 17 The Russian embassy sent a note of protest to the Armenian Foreign Ministry due to publications in local media accusing Moscow of being involved in the explosion in Yerevan.» Outraged by the cynical stuff circulated in the local information space containing blasphemous and false accusations against Russian structures of involvement in the tragedy that occurred on August 14 on the territory of the Surmalu shopping center, the statement says. The Russian side stressed that it considers this a direct provocation by political forces aimed at undermining the Russian -Armenian allied relations, and expects steps from the Armenian authorities aimed at suppressing such unfriendly manifestations. The diplomats recalled that Russia, represented by the Russian-Armenian Center for Humanitarian Response, participated in the elimination of the consequences of the explosion and fire from the very first minutes. Explosion in the Surmalu shopping center thundered on the afternoon of August 14. According to the latest data, 16 people died k, 62 were injured. The Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on violation of the rules for storing flammable substances and fire safety rules. Officially, the cause of the explosion has not yet been named, but the Yerevan City Hall stated that it occurred in a warehouse of pyrotechnic materials. The Ministry of Emergency Situations clarified that about four tons of pyrotechnics were stored on the territory of the shopping center.
