Video: Charges Filed Against 'Zero Shahumyan' and 'Kilikian Harutik' and 'Pze' by Investigative Committee

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has announced that, following extensive investigative and procedural actions conducted by the main department for particularly important cases, circumstances surrounding the establishment, leadership, and participation in a criminal subculture group by individuals of high criminal rank have been clarified.

According to the factual data obtained during the investigation, an individual known by the alias 'Zero Shahumyan,' who holds a high criminal rank, instructed an inmate identified as 'Kilikian Harutik,' also with a high criminal status, who was held in the 'Nubarashen' penitentiary from December 29, 2020, to January 25, 2021, to command another individual held in the same facility to 'punish' the inmate nicknamed 'Kyazh' through violence for failure to comply with the aforementioned assignment. However, that individual refused to carry out the instruction.

Subsequently, based on the orders of 'Zero Shahumyan,' 'Kilikian Harutik' engaged another high-ranking convict held at the 'Armavir' penitentiary, who then proposed the candidature of an individual nicknamed 'Pze' held in that facility. Following the norms of conduct established by the criminal subculture, the latter temporarily assumed the functions of a so-called 'zone overseer' in the third building of the Armavir penitentiary and distributed packages, including cigarettes and food from outside, to incarcerated individuals three times over a 20-day period. Additionally, on January 18 and 24, 2021, he instructed those detainees to create disturbances, thereby demonstrating his actual affiliation with the criminal subculture group.

Furthermore, to obstruct the adoption of the bill initiated by the Government of Armenia criminalizing actions related to criminal subculture and to showcase their dissent, 'Kilikian Harutik' organized mass riots in the 'Nubarashen' penitentiary on September 5, 2019. During the riots, inmates from the 3rd and 4th buildings insulted and verbally abused law enforcement personnel, striking prison doors and feeding slots with their feet and various objects, breaking them, and setting fire to portions of the dry grass cover adjacent to the penitentiary. They also disobeyed the lawful demands of the staff to cease the riots, demonstrating their insubordination.

Based on sufficient evidence collected, 'Zero Shahumyan' has been charged under Article 223.2, Part 2, Point 5 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, 'Kilikian Harutik' under part 1 of Article 225, as well as parts 3, Points 1 and 5 of Article 223.3, and another high-ranking individual under parts 3, Points 1 and 5 of Article 223.3 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The preliminary investigation concerning these three individuals has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to the prosecuting authority for approval of the indictment and referral to court.

Notice: A person suspected or accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict that has entered into legal force in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.