Arrest of 'Thief in Law': 'Zone Supervisors' Exposed in 'Nubarashen' and 'Armarvir' Prisons

The investigation revealed that a 'thief in law' was leading a criminal group within the penitentiary system, with various individuals possessing the highest rank of 'criminal authority' in the criminal hierarchy participating in this group. This information was provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia.

On May 5, 2021, a criminal case was initiated, and on May 7, 2021, as a result of searches conducted by the police, a person with the highest rank in the criminal hierarchy, known as a 'thief in law,' was arrested.

It was established that in the 'Nubarashen' prison, the so-called functions of 'zone supervisors' were performed by individuals also held in the institution, known by the nicknames 'A.A.' and 'K.H.' Likewise, in the third building of the 'Armarvir' prison, these functions were taken over by an individual known as 'P.'

They issued orders in accordance with the conduct rules recognized by the criminal culture, organized and conducted the collection of funds (including through gambling), managed illegally obtained profits, and carried out other actions aimed at fulfilling the objectives pursued by the criminal group.

According to the evidence collected, starting from March 2020, after transporting individuals known by the nicknames 'N.N.' and 'V.' who held the status of 'zone supervisor' from the 'Nubarashen' prison, the so-called functions of 'zone supervisor' in the same prison were undertaken by an individual with the nickname 'K.H.' This person was involved in fundraising, maintaining corresponding lists and presenting a 'report' about the financial movements to the individuals with the status of 'thief in law,' using the gathered funds for the general needs of prisoners and inmates, while also allocating portions to those holding the highest rank in the criminal hierarchy.

Additionally, factual data has been acquired indicating that a person known by the nickname 'Sh.J.,' holding the status of 'thief in law,' instructed 'S.A.,' recognized as a 'criminal authority' and serving as a 'zone supervisor' in the third building of the 'Armarvir' prison, to punish an inmate by beating according to the conduct rules accepted by the criminal group, and subsequently initiated a process to replace this so-called 'zone supervisor' for failing to carry out his instruction.

For this purpose, the individual known as 'Sh.J.' instructed the person known as 'K.H.' to find a 'normal man who keeps his word' among those recognized and following the conduct rules established by the criminal group within the third building of the 'Armarvir' prison.

The aforementioned person involved 'A.B.,' known as a 'zone supervisor' in the sixth building of the 'Armarvir' prison, who guaranteed and then proposed the candidacy of an individual known as 'P.' This individual temporarily took on the so-called functions of 'zone supervisor' in the third building and distributed 'crumple notes' brought from outside in the form of cigarettes, food, and other items to inmates detained in the same building, also instructing them to carry out disorders.

All necessary and adequate actions are being carried out within the framework of the criminal case to clarify the entire range of individuals involved in the group and associated persons.