Attempted Murder of Currency Exchange Employee; Two Charged

The investigative department of the Center and Norq-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan has disclosed several details regarding an attempted murder and robbery involving an employee of a currency exchange point, following extensive investigative and procedural actions.

According to the factual information gathered during the investigation, a 51-year-old resident of Yerevan, in collaboration with a 39-year-old man also from the city, agreed to carry out a robbery at a currency exchange point located on Kaghaznuni Street. On February 22, 2021, around 14:30, the 51-year-old man approached the vicinity of the exchange point, wearing a hat and a medical mask.

The 39-year-old man arrived at the scene in an Opel Zafira vehicle to provide promised assistance, ensuring the safe escape of the 51-year-old man and the transport of the stolen money.

The 51-year-old, entering the currency exchange point, threatened the employee with violence that posed a danger to life and health, aiming to commit theft of someone else's property. He aimed a makeshift weapon, previously prepared, at the employee and demanded money.

The employee complied and handed over a total of 29,600,000 AMD (approx. $61,000) in various currencies from a fireproof safe. After that, the 51-year-old man approached the entrance door of the booth and, with intent to unlawfully kill two individuals, pulled the pin from a military grenade he had illegally possessed and threw it into the booth. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the grenade did not detonate, preventing the completion of the crime. Subsequently, according to their agreement, he fled the scene in the Opel Zafira with the 39-year-old man.

Based on the sufficient evidence gathered, charges were brought against the 51-year-old man under Article 34-104 (attempted murder) parts 1 and 6, Article 175 (robbery) part 3, and Article 235 (illegal acquisition, sale, storage, transport, or carrying of weapons, military equipment, explosives, or explosive devices) part 1 of the RA Criminal Code. The 39-year-old man was charged under Article 38-175 part 3 of the RA Criminal Code. They have been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.

The investigation is ongoing.