New Details on the Murder of 'Faz'

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has completed the preliminary investigation regarding the murder of Sergey Grigoryan, known by the nickname 'Faz', and the attempted murder of his companion, 35-year-old B. Simonyan, which occurred on June 11, 2024, on Shinarar Street in Yerevan. The preliminary investigation against two defendants has been concluded by the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee.

Within the framework of the criminal case initiated by the Investigative Division of Ajapnyak and Davtashen administrative districts, which was subsequently continued in the Main Investigative Department, substantial investigative and procedural actions have been carried out, revealing significant circumstances regarding the case, including the motive, the identities of the alleged perpetrators, and their respective roles in the crime.

It has been established that, with the intent to unlawfully take the life of S. Grigoryan, one R. Stepanyan, in conspiracy with a group of individuals, including A. Kueryan, H. Sahakyan, and Su. Grigoryan, illegally obtained and stored firearms and ammunition. Subsequently, together with A. Kueryan, they organized and directed the actions of their accomplices, leading to the murder of S. Grigoryan at approximately 23:15 on June 11, 2024, in a manner hazardous to the life of others.

The investigation revealed that hostile relations had formed between 'Chagh Rustam' R. Stepanyan and S. Grigoryan since 2018 due to personal issues. The conflict escalated in December 2020 when S. Grigoryan and his associate made derogatory comments on an Instagram account belonging to R. Stepanyan's close friend. To punish this person, S. Grigoryan, along with his confidants, kidnapped R. Stepanyan’s friend against their will, assaulted them, and demanded details about those making the offending comments—only to have the victim released following R. Stepanyan’s intervention.

Some time later, S. Grigoryan attempted to obtain information from R. Stepanyan's friend again via a phone call. Receiving a refusal, he threatened to kill the individual and those with them. As part of a premeditated plan, on January 13, 2021, S. Grigoryan's brother, together with a group of individuals, opened fire on R. Stepanyan, marking the beginning of a series of violent incidents between the two parties.

In reaction to the longstanding hostilities, R. Stepanyan organized a plan to retaliate against S. Grigoryan by procuring an AK-103 assault rifle and ammunition, with the help of his associates. On the night of June 11, 2024, armed with the unlawfully acquired rifle, members of this group ambushed S. Grigoryan, who had just left a betting office and was in his vehicle.

During the execution of the murder, S. Grigoryan received life-threatening injuries from at least 20 shots fired by Su. Grigoryan before fleeing the scene along with H. Sahakyan. Despite efforts to escape, both individuals were later tracked and apprehended, leading to formal charges against them.

Following the investigation, the organizers of the crime, R. Stepanyan and A. Kueryan, were arrested and charges were filed against them under various articles of the Armenian Criminal Code, with detention measures applied. The status of the other perpetrators remains under investigation, with public criminal proceedings launched against them.