Armenia National Security Service arrests 21 members of the criminal gang targeting citizens and authorities

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Serviceof the Republicof Armenia arrested 21 members of the criminal gang neutralized on November 25. They have been charged based on sufficient evidence. Deputy Chief of Investigation Department of the National Security Serviceof the Republicof Armenia Mikayel Hambardzumyan said the aforementioned at the press-conference hall of “Armenpress”.

“There is reasonable suspicion against them. We will file a petition on selecting arrest as a measure of restraint of those persons. But the issue connected with their guiltiness is under competence of the court and the final decision will be made there. In current stage of the preliminary investigation we must conduct investigation; the results will be summed up and legal assessment will be given to their actions,” Hambardzumyan said.

Mikayel Hambardzumyan emphasized that the members of the group had received classified phone numbers which allowed communication with each other.

“A group with special intentions and a special developed plan has been neutralized. The targets of the crime and ways of its organization have also been selected. At this moment I cannot present many details on especially whom the crimes had been directed towards due to understandable reasons. The crimes organized by them were aimed at citizens, politicians, representatives of different branches of the leadership and state bodies,” Deputy Chief 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. 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.