Criminal Authority Sought by Police Found

The investigation continues into the cases of extortion and kidnapping carried out by an individual deemed a criminal authority, as part of a criminal case initiated by the Yerevan City Investigative Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

As a result of extensive investigative and other procedural actions, along with joint operational-search measures implemented by the Main Directorate of Criminal Police of Armenia, one of the individuals on the wanted list for this criminal case was found and presented to the prosecuting authority on August 30, 2021. This individual is recognized as a criminal authority.

The charges against him include sections 1 and 7 of part 2 of Article 38-131, part 2 of Article 182, and part 5 of Article 223.2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

It was previously reported that this individual, recognized as a criminal authority with a high rank in the criminal hierarchy, organized the kidnapping of a Yerevan resident on January 18, 2021, through his criminal organization due to a dispute over money, with the intent of gaining illegal benefits.

Under coercion, the victim was tricked into getting into a car, blindfolded, and taken to a private house, where he was assaulted by members of this organization and other unidentified individuals. Later that same night, while returning the victim to Yerevan, the criminal authority threatened him with death, demanding a large sum equivalent to 10,000 USD, or 5,221,900 AMD, before any further clarifications could be made, which he later extorted from the Yerevan resident with the assistance of a member of his organization.

The investigation is ongoing.