Iranian National Kidnaps Yerevan Debtor, Ties and Beats Him Over Debt

As a result of extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out by the investigative department of the Yerevan city investigative office of the RA Investigative Committee, several circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents of extortion and kidnapping by a person considered a criminal authority have been clarified.

According to the factual data obtained in the investigation, in accordance with the behavioral rules established by a criminal subculture group, a person considered a criminal authority of Persian ethnicity, a citizen of Iran, organized the kidnapping of a Yerevan resident over a debt dispute with the aim of obtaining illegal profit. On January 18, 2021, the kidnapping was executed by members of the criminal subculture group led by him, from in front of the French University located on D. Anhaght Street in Yerevan using a ‘Mercedes ML’ vehicle.

Specifically, the man was deceived and forced against his will into the vehicle, blindfolded, and taken to a private house, thereby severing him from his micro-social environment against his will. Subsequently, one of the members of the mentioned group and other individuals yet to be identified subjected the man to physical violence in a room of the private house. On the same night, when returning him to Yerevan, the individual considered a criminal authority threatened him with murder to demand a particularly large amount of $10,000, equivalent to 5,221,900 AMD, until further clarifications were made. Days later, with the help of a member of the criminal subculture group, this amount was extorted from the Yerevan resident.

Based on the combination of sufficient evidence obtained, a decision was made to charge the individual considered a criminal authority under parts 1 and 7 of Article 131, part 2 of Article 182, part 5 of Article 223.2 of the RA Criminal Code, while one of the mentioned group members was involved as an accused under parts 1 and 7 of Article 131, part 2 of Article 182, and part 1 of Article 223.3. To locate them, a search was announced on August 17, 2021, and motions were submitted to the court for the selection of detention as a preventive measure, which were granted. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.