YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian National Security Service was able to neutralize the criminal gang a few days before the planned crime. Deputy Chief of the NSS Investigation Department Mikayel Hambardzumyan made such announcement in the conference hall of “Armenpress”. According to him, the date of the gang’s rented house was close to be expired and the group would act after a few days implementing its intention. “The actions that were to take place would be dangerous for many people’s lives and would contain particularly cynical manner,” Mikayel Hambardzumyan said.

He drew parallels between events of October 27 1999 and November 25, 2015 mentioning that they prevented dangerous crimes for a large number of people’s lives. He mentioned that it would be a great success if Nairi Hunanyan’s gang could be discovered 3 days before their committed crime. “I think that in the mentioned case there would also be persons who would say that the caught persons were youngsters and they could not do anything,” he added.

 Mikayel Hambardzumyan noticed that a thorough investigation is carried out to find out where the weapons and ammunition were obtained.

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.