‘Thief in Law’ Status Obtained by ‘Oshakan Gagik’ Arrested: NSS Details

Following extensive investigative and other procedural actions carried out by the Investigative Department of the National Security Service of Armenia in the criminal case initiated, as well as complex operational and intelligence measures carried out in cooperation with the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice, it has been possible to uncover criminal arrangements and schemes aimed at creating and leading a group bearing criminal subculture by individuals with the highest rank in criminal hierarchy.

On August 25, 2020, G. M., also known as ‘Oshakan Gagik’, who had obtained the status of a ‘thief in law’, was brought to the Investigative Department of the NSS of Armenia under reasonable suspicion of creating and leading a group with a criminal subculture. He was arrested the same day based on grounds established by criminal procedural law.

Evidence has been collected indicating that G. M., holding the status of ‘thief in law’ and being a member of a group of individuals endowed with hierarchical interpersonal relations, continued to maintain his high criminal status, and, after February 22, 2020, used his illegal influence to resolve a private dispute regarding the return of a borrowed amount for which he had been approached with threats.

Specifically, G. M., possessing the high rank of criminal hierarchy, used his illegal influence to resolve a dispute concerning debts owed to A. P. for previously pawned gold and money earned from fish sales, which S. S. failed to pay. Starting from May 17, 2020, he contacted S. S. and, through threats, instructed him to agree to the demands of the creditor, A. P., who, taking advantage of G. M.’s protection, demanded $4,800, 1,550,000 AMD, and ownership certificates of land areas adjacent to fish farms located in the Armavir region.

Within the framework of the same criminal case, four other individuals were also taken into custody. Out of those brought in by the investigative body, three were arrested under conditions provided by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, while one was subjected to a preventive measure in the form of a signature not to leave.

Additionally, as part of another criminal case ongoing at the Investigative Department of the NSS of Armenia, sufficient evidence was obtained during operational and intelligence measures conducted jointly with the Penitentiary Service on the same day, concerning A. T., who holds the status of ‘criminal authority’ and acts as a so-called ‘zone overseer’. Evidence suggests that A. T. has been leading a group with a criminal subculture since February 22, 2020, while continuing to hold a high criminal status. In particular, he exercised control over inmates held at the “Armavir” penitentiary institution, giving specific instructions to various individuals who are members of the criminal subculture to maintain ‘order’ among them and issuing directives to resolve private disputes, while also organizing and overseeing the collection and management of so-called ‘obshchaka’ funds.

At the same time, evidence has been gathered indicating that A. T., while being detained in cell number 30 of block 3 at the Armavir penitentiary, exercised control over detained and sentenced individuals, regulating the housing arrangements of newly arrived individuals as well as the existing inmates based on requests from various individuals and overseeing the involvement of detainees and convicts in gambling, ensuring that privileged individuals are kept away from this activity. He also discussed with ‘privileged’ inmates from other sections of the penitentiary regarding the issue of punishing another ‘zone overseer’ who had lost authority among the inmates.

In order to discover objects and values obtained through illegal means, a total of six searches were conducted in the residences of the aforementioned individuals, resulting in the discovery and seizure of various drugs, mobile phones, certificates of ownership rights concerning disputed land plots, as well as other items significant to the criminal case.

Active measures are being undertaken to clarify the presence of other criminal manifestations by participants involved in the criminal scheme and to prevent or neutralize potential criminal activities. The National Security Service urges the public to refrain from appealing to members of groups with a criminal subculture or individuals holding high criminal status for material or non-material benefits or to gain real or alleged rights, and emphasizes the necessity of exhibiting strictly law-abiding behavior, reminding that criminal liability is defined for such actions.