VIDEO: Armenian Citizen's Kidney Illegally Taken Abroad

Recently, the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Police received operational information that two citizens of the Republic of Armenia were involved in the illegal trafficking of organs. The officers of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime launched extensive operational and investigative measures to verify the authenticity of the received information and to identify the individuals involved.

The officers of the Ashotsk division of the police also participated in the activities. As a result, the identities of the involved persons were clarified. During this phase of the operation, close cooperation was also developed with the officers of the National Central Bureau of Interpol in the Republic of Armenia. Consequently, it was revealed that one of the citizens had indeed received a permit to enter a European country and had traveled there.

In that country, through a transplant operation, his organ—his kidney—was taken. This fact was confirmed by the expert conclusion obtained from the appointed forensic examination.

A criminal case was initiated under Article 125 of the RA Criminal Code, pertaining to the illegal trafficking of human organs and/or tissues. Within the framework of the criminal case, the individual was invited to the police and stated that he indeed had discussions regarding the sale of a kidney with a person who had approached him with such an offer. Organized by this individual, he traveled to the specified European country several times for medical examinations, and according to his testimony, was transported again to the European country for the purpose of organizing such a medical examination. There, taking advantage of the fact that he was not familiar with the country's language and was alone, as well as his vulnerability due to debt dependency, he was subjected to surgery without obtaining his final consent, through which his kidney was removed.

As a result of the measures undertaken by the police, the identities of almost all individuals involved in this crime have been clarified, and efforts are ongoing to fully ascertain the circumstances of the crime.