YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia tries to find out the sources from which the armed criminal gang, discovered on street 9, Nork Marash on November 25, received financing. “Armenpress” reports that Deputy Chief of Investigation Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia Mikayel Hambardzumyan that the preliminary investigation discovered that the criminal gang received several thousands of dollars in Armenia.

“The source of the financing is yet unknown and we are currently busy with identifying it,” Hambardzumyan said.

In regard to the information spread in media that the members of the gang had connection with the “Islamic State” Hambardzumyan said that it was revealed that one of the members of the criminal group - Artur Vardanyan, had been in the territory of Syria and the abovementioned version was being investigated.

“We will perform corresponding activities related to that. We will make surveys and activities to find out the nature of the activity they performed abroad, their connections, whether the known organizations have any connection with the incident or not,” Hambardzumyan said.

A criminal group has been revealed as a result of investigative works performed by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. The criminal 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 during 2015 with the intention of organizing a number of grave crimes in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

In joint searches with the Police on November 25, different rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, grenades, explosive materials and equipment, cartridges, bullets etc. were discovered in the rented house in Nork district of Yerevan. 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 and part 3 of Article 235 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Preliminary investigation is being held. Additional information will be provided later.