The Case of Two Gang Members Who Committed Serious Crimes in 2000-2001 is in Court

In the framework of the combined proceedings of numerous criminal cases initiated in 2000-2001, an extensive investigation conducted by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia established and substantiated the facts of numerous serious and particularly serious crimes committed by a criminal gang. The General Prosecutor's Office reports this.

Specifically, a criminal group was formed and led by Ashot Zatikyan during 2000-2001, which involved G. Machanyan, a resident of the city of Ejmiatsin, from the beginning and participated in all the crimes committed by the gang. The gang included individuals previously convicted for illegal drug use, extortion, theft, deliberate murder, robbery, and other offenses.

The gang used apartments rented by A. Zatikyan in Yerevan as their meeting places, as well as the area of the “Yerevan-Vayk” passenger taxi stop in the “First Sector” neighborhood of Yerevan, where two gang members worked as drivers.

A. Zatikyan acquired and utilized police uniforms during the commission of crimes, prepared police employee identification, and represented himself as a police officer to victims during the majority of crimes, usurping the title of a public official.

Several members of the gang were also instructed to provide tools and means for committing crimes. Specifically, certain members were required to provide their personal vehicles which were used by gang members in the commission of crimes.

Additionally, various state license plates were previously stolen and provided to the gang to be affixed on vehicles during the preparatory phases of specific crimes.

A. Zatikyan developed plans for the commission of crimes, allocated roles among gang members, directed all criminal activities and the execution of specific crimes, and took measures to ensure the secrecy of the gang’s existence and criminal activities.

Together with G. Machanyan, A. Zatikyan illegally acquired, carried, kept, and armed gang members with firearms, ammunition, and knives. Between 2000-2001, they organized and executed robberies and committed murder under aggravating circumstances, including the murder of a police officer in the context of public order enforcement.

The targets of their attacks included gas stations, currency exchange points, and certain individuals engaged in gold trade and currency exchange, who were subjected to various forms of violence. In total, 35 people were victims of the gang's criminal activities.

At the same time, the gang leader organized and carried out measures with key players to prevent the disclosure of crimes, to hide accomplices, traces, items acquired through criminal means, and the tools and means used in the commission of crimes.

Parts of the criminal case against Ashot Zatikyan and nine members of the gang have been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion at different times. As a result of the court trials, they were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment; Ashot Zatikyan himself was sentenced to life imprisonment.

On October 27, 2001, a preventive measure of detention was chosen for G. Machanyan, one of the gang leaders, and T. Khachatryan, and they were declared wanted. Later, they were located and presented to the preliminary investigation body.

As a result, G. Machanyan was charged on March 2, 2020, under several points of the second part of Article 104 of the RA Criminal Code, while T. Khachatryan was charged on April 3, 2020, under Article 222 of the RA Criminal Code and Article 329, part one, for 3 episodes.

The criminal activities of the mentioned individuals resulted in approximately 33.5 million AMD in material damages to the victims. A lien has been placed on the properties registered in their names.

The preliminary investigation regarding G. Machanyan and T. Khachatryan has been completed; the accusatory conclusion regarding them has been confirmed by the prosecutor supervising the legality of the preliminary investigation, and the criminal case in that regard has been sent to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan for substantive examination.

The investigation continues regarding one defendant who is wanted and regarding other unidentified individuals who participated in the gang's attacks.