Prosecution Reveals Culprits Behind 'Faz' Murder; Two Arrested

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has reported that a criminal case has been initiated regarding the murder of 43-year-old Sergey Grigoryan and an attempted murder of 35-year-old B. Simonyan, which took place on June 11, 2024, around 23:15 on Shinararner Street in Yerevan.

According to the Investigative Committee, during the investigation, several vehicles, including a Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Camry, Opel Astra, and Toyota Corolla, were found in a collision state at the crime scene on Shinararner Street. The Land Cruiser showed gunshot damage on both front and back ends, while traces of blood-like substances were discovered inside the vehicle. In the trunk of the Opel Astra, the investigators found items labeled “police,” military vests, telescopes, gasoline containers, a loaded firearm magazine containing bullets, two radios, and numerous cartridges of various calibers.

Given the specifics of the case, the further investigation was handed over to the Main Investigative Department of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee. Extensive evidence collection and operational measures by law enforcement officers led to the unveiling of significant details regarding the murder.

Specifically, it was established that a hostile relationship formed between Sergey Grigoryan, known as Faz, and 36-year-old R. Stepanyan from Kotayk Province due to disputes arising over personal matters dating back to 2020. These disputes included a shooting incident on January 13, 2021, in a parking lot in the Tohmakh Cemetery area involving R. Stepanyan and his associates, which led to a series of confrontations, including those involving firearms, resulting in criminal cases.

As a result of the hostile relationship, R. Stepanyan, intending to kill Sergey Grigoryan, along with three accomplices - A. Kyureghyan, H. Sahakyan, and Su. Grigoryan - conspired to illegally acquire an AK 103 model firearm and ammunition. To facilitate the crime, they also obtained necessary items such as a telescope, gloves, masks, police uniforms, communication devices, lamps, and false license plates. On June 11, 2024, they met several times at a house owned by R. Stepanyan in Kotayk Province.

With the arrangement in place between R. Stepanyan and A. Kyureghyan, the other two members of the group, H. Sahakyan and Su. Grigoryan, left their residence around 21:00 with the illegal firearm, telescope, gloves, masks, police uniforms, radios, lamp, and Opel Astra with false license plates, heading toward Yerevan.

As they pursued Grigoryan, the opportunity for murder arose when Grigoryan, accompanied by friends, exited a betting office and got into his parked Toyota Land Cruiser. H. Sahakyan maneuvered the Astra to block Grigoryan's path, while Su. Grigoryan fired numerous shots from the rear seat of the Astra, fatally injuring Grigoryan and causing serious injuries to B. Simonyan.

Following the murder, H. Sahakyan and Su. Grigoryan attempted to flee the scene but, due to a collision with other vehicles, abandoned their car and discarded items linked to the crime. They subsequently made their way separately to a house in Kotayk Province where A. Kyureghyan awaited them, soon joined by R. Stepanyan. Later, the two fugitives crossed the Armenian border at Zvartnots Airport to Russia.

It was revealed that A. Kyureghyan was instrumental throughout the planning, coordinating the movements and purchases for Su. Grigoryan and H. Sahakyan. Based on the collected evidence, the prosecuting body submitted motions to the Prosecutor's Office to pursue charges under specific articles of the Armenian Penal Code against R. Stepanyan and A. Kyureghyan, as well as H. Sahakyan and Su. Grigoryan.

Law enforcement has been directed to discuss the issue of pre-trial detention for these four individuals, with arrests of R. Stepanyan and A. Kyureghyan having taken place. Court proceedings regarding their detention as a measure have been approved. Investigations to locate the remaining members of the group are ongoing.