Armenians Attempted to Board Vienna-Bound Flight with Fake Spanish and French Passports

The National Security Service of Armenia has uncovered a criminal group involved in organizing illegal migration through a series of operational and investigative measures aimed at combating illegal migration. According to preliminary data, a group of individuals residing in the Republic of Iraq, in prior agreement, organized the illegal migration of several Iraqi citizens by using fake documents to obtain proper permission for transit through Armenia, charging each person €12,000.

The criminal group provided tickets for flights from Erbil to Yerevan and Yerevan to Istanbul and back, agreeing that the individuals would not actually return to Iraq but would illegally depart from Armenia to Europe. According to the developed plan, these individuals crossed the Armenian state border using their valid Iraqi passports, while in the neutral zone of the airport they used noticeably fake Spanish and French passports and boarding passes issued in accordance with those documents to attempt to board a flight to Vienna. However, NSC employees detected the crime, and the organization of illegal migration was thwarted.

The Iraqi citizens mentioned were arrested on suspicion of committing a crime under relevant articles of the Armenian Criminal Code and have been involved as defendants, with personal guarantees chosen as a preventive measure. Additionally, two Armenian citizens, one of whom may be connected to the organization of illegal migration of Iraqi citizens, organized the illegal migration of a group of Armenian citizens to Europe in the same manner. Specifically, they attempted to board a flight to Barcelona using fake Greek residence permits and boarding passes issued according to those documents in the neutral zone of the airport but were apprehended by NSC employees. Preventive measures of non-departure signature were applied to them, and relevant investigative actions were conducted.

Searches at the organizers' residences revealed Spanish residence cards and self-adhesive entry permits to Greece. These individuals were apprehended and arrested on suspicion of committing a crime under the relevant articles of the Armenian Criminal Code. A criminal case has been initiated at the NSC's investigative department concerning the apparent criminal offenses, with charges brought against five individuals. An investigation is ongoing.

Note: A suspect in a crime or an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law in accordance with the established procedure of the Armenian Criminal Procedure Code, with a legally binding verdict.