Client of Brutal Murder Released Amid Amnesty: Details on the High-Profile Murder Case

On March 8, 2018, a brutal murder occurred in the Shirak region, involving a fugitive named Ruben Sargsyan, also known as "Udi," who remains at large. Presently, two individuals, Nare Nersisyan and Sarkis Fardmanyan (alias Shak), are in custody in connection with the case.

The body of Edgar Gyulazyan, a resident of Spitak city, was discovered on a road from the village of Azatan to the village of Arevik. Forensic experts determined that his death was caused by acute poisoning from an exogenous substance. According to investigative theories, Gyulazyan was killed by injecting a large dose of drugs to create the appearance of a drug overdose.

Documents from the case indicate that Ruben Sargsyan commissioned the murder, Nare Nersisyan executed the act, and Sarkis Fardmanyan assisted her. Notably, on August 16, 2017, Sargsyan was sentenced to three years and four months for organizing the kidnapping of Edgar Gyulazyan, but was released on November 12, 2018, due to an amnesty.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Sargsyan ordered Gyulazyan's murder as an act of vengeance related to the kidnapping case. The murder was uncovered a year later within the framework of another criminal case concerning drug trafficking.

Nare Nersisyan and Sarkis Fardmanyan deny the charges against them. Fardmanyan was charged on March 4, 2019, under article 38-104, part 2, point 8 of the Republic of Armenia Criminal Code (assisting in commissioned murder). His detention has been extended three times.

In an interview with NEWS.am, Fardmanyan's defense attorney, Liana Balayan, stated that the investigative body has not rescinded the visitation ban imposed on her client. Fardmanyan is married and has two minor children. Balayan noted that he suffers from a terminal illness, which led to his release from military service. He has been experiencing frequent seizures and has liver, gallbladder, and kidney issues.

Commenting on the charges against her client, Liana Balayan expressed that the criminal case is built on unfounded suspicions and assumptions. "The case, unresolved for a year, was supposedly uncovered through the testimony of a drug addict. My client was publicly identified as a murderer on television and social media, compromising his presumption of innocence, despite the fact that the individual known as Udi is still on the run and there is no evidence in the file beyond the drug addict's baseless theory," she said. Balayan also added that no investigative actions involving her client have taken place during the five months of the case's investigation.