YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The criminal gang, discovered and neutralized due to joint actions of different units of the National Security Service, according to its armed level, number of members, its level of being organized and the danger of their planned crimes and its cruelty had no precedent in Armenia. Deputy Head of the Investigation Department of the National Security Service (NSS) Mikayel Hambardzumyan announced about the aforesaid during the press conference at conference hall of “Armenpress”. “The group was formed for implementing specific criminal purpose, each member knew its role and duties, the gang was funded by several dozen thousand dollars,” Hambardzumyan said.

Head of the gang Artur Vardanyan took measures to conceal the gang members and their activity, even confidential phone numbers were delivered to gang members which they used for connecting with each other and led conversations related to organizing crimes.  Group activity, however, appeared in the viewpoint of NSS servicemen after which the gang was taken under control and was neutralized due to the initiated measures.

Hambardzumyan ensured that, taking into account the public interest, Armenian NSS Press Center will periodically provide details of the incident but the prosecution office is obliged to keep the secrecy of pre-investigation that is why it is impossible to present all the details of the criminal case few days after the criminal case is initiated,” Hambardzumyan emphasized.

A criminal group has been revealed as a result of operative investigation works carried out by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. The group intended to organize a number of grave crimes in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.  

Armenia citizen, former resident of Yerevan, Artur Vardanyan residing abroad arrived in Armenia in 2015, formed and headed a criminal group. According to preliminary agreement, the group illegally acquired a large number of weapons and ammunition concealing it in a rented house in Nork district of Yerevan.

In joint searches with the Police on November 25, different rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, grenades, explosive materials and equipment, cartridges, bullets etc. were discovered.   Artur Vardanyan and 9 members of the criminal group were discovered in the house during the searches. The criminals have been arrested.

A criminal case has been initiated in Investigative Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with parts 1 and 2 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Preliminary investigation is being held. Additional information will be provided later.