Details Emerge on the Kidnapping and Extortion of a Former MP's Father

The Investigative Committee of Armenia previously reported that the case regarding the kidnapping of the father of former MP Kh. Kokobelyan, an 84-year-old resident of Ajajur village in Tavush province, and the extortion of a particularly large sum from him, has been separated for prosecution against four individuals. This was sent to court on July 17, 2023. Meanwhile, the investigation in the main criminal case continues, within the framework of which the identity of another alleged member of the criminal group has been revealed, who is a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This information was disclosed by the Investigative Committee.

Specifically, as a result of extensive investigative actions conducted by the Human Rights Department of the Investigative Committee under the Criminal Procedure Code, it was revealed that the aforementioned Iranian citizen, along with S. Manukyan and a group of other individuals, had reached a preliminary agreement to kidnap the 84-year-old man and extort particularly large sums of money, totaling $3,000,000, from his relatives. Being in the Islamic Republic of Iran and to conceal their actions as much as possible and minimize the risks of exposure, the Iranian citizen sought the assistance of a close person residing in Iran in order to open a digital currency wallet to receive the aforementioned amount in cryptocurrency.

After providing the Bitcoin wallet details, this individual, at the request of the Iranian citizen, also acquired a foreign Ukrainian virtual phone number through which a WhatsApp account was created. Following these operations, on the early morning of July 27, 2022, S. Manukyan, while in Armenia, went with other members of the criminal group in an Opel vehicle to the home of the 84-year-old man located on 1st Street in Ajajur village, where they masked their faces and waited for the elderly resident. At around 07:00, when he stepped out of his house, they forcibly made him get into the vehicle against his will, blindfolded him, and tied his mouth shut, taking him out of the village.

Shortly after, the elderly man was transferred to a TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO 2.7 and taken to the village of Tsater in Lori province, where he was held in a rented guesthouse, supervised by T. Poghosyan and another member of the criminal group in shifts until August 2, 2022, masked at all times. Subsequently, S. Manukyan traveled to the Islamic Republic of Iran and met with the aforementioned citizen. Continuing with their criminal intent, members of the group sent a message via WhatsApp on July 29, 2022, at 09:30 AM, to the son of the elderly man, Kh. Kokobelyan, demanding the $3 million. Additionally, they repeatedly issued ultimatums to the former MP, threatening that his son would be next.

As a result of negotiations conducted through WhatsApp, they agreed to release the elderly man for $200,000. After receiving $20,000 in cryptocurrency that they had previously sent, on August 2, 2022, S. Manukyan returned to Armenia and, together with A. K., took a HYUNDAI SONATA 2.4 vehicle from a relative and set off from Yerevan around 11:00 AM, arriving in Tsater around 14:00. Before arriving, T. P. had blindfolded the elderly man with cotton and bandages, after which he was transferred to the mentioned vehicle and taken away. On the same day, at approximately 17:30, members of the criminal group released the man from the vehicle, made him sit on a rock, and left toward Ijevan city, subsequently informing his relatives of his whereabouts and demanding the remaining portion of the agreed sum. At around 18:00, the 84-year-old man was found at the specified location. Continuing to fulfill their previously agreed conditions, his relatives made another transfer equivalent to $20,000 in cryptocurrency.

Based on sufficient evidence obtained, charges were filed against the Iranian citizen under Article 191, Part 2, Clause 5, and Article 258, Part 3, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, with detention as a measure of restraint imposed. The investigation is ongoing. It has also been revealed that he is accused in another criminal case handled by the Investigative Committee of Armenia regarding the establishment or leadership of a criminal organization, illegal trafficking of particularly large amounts of narcotics, and smuggling of particularly large amounts of narcotics by a criminal organization.