Arrest of Criminal Authority and Members of Criminal Group

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has arrested members of a criminal group during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case. This was achieved through investigative actions conducted by the main department for particularly important cases of the Committee and operational-search measures taken in cooperation with the National Security Service.

It has been revealed that R.P., who holds a high rank in the criminal hierarchy, led an association of individuals with hierarchical interpersonal relationships bound by criminal ranks. Throughout this illegal process, R.P., using his unlawful influence, instructed members of the criminal subculture to resolve a private dispute related to an individual, enlisting G.H., who also holds a high rank in the criminal hierarchy, to the group.

V.B., as a member of a grouping created and led by P.G. that operates with hierarchical interpersonal relations bound by criminal ranks, learned of a debt involving one person owing another $150,000. R.P. took on the obligation to illegally resolve this private matter between July 20 and July 25, 2025, but failed to fulfill his promise during the promised period.

Seeing that V.B. had not kept his word for some time, R.P. ordered G.H., another member of his group holding a high rank in the criminal hierarchy, to take revenge on V.B. G.H. executed R.P.'s instructions and used violence against V.B. between July 26 and 30, 2025, causing bodily harm.

A.H., another member of a criminal association created and led by P.G., learned about the dispute with R.P. during a phone call with V.B. on July 30, 2025, and reported this to P.G. Subsequently, on August 20, 2025, P.G. met with V.B. at a gathering place in Yerevan to resolve the dispute, aiming to maintain his and his group’s criminal authority.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to reduce the $150,000 payment from V.B. to between $70,000 and $80,000. Additionally, V.B. pressured a businessman for the illegal return of a debt of 25 million AMD owed to a resident of Hrazdan, requiring repayment.

As a result, the businessman transferred 3.7 million AMD to the Hrazdan resident, of which 2 million AMD was transferred to V.B. the same day as illegal profit. Furthermore, in an effort to organize the repayment of a debt of $34,000 owed by A.M. to another person, V.B. invited A.M. to his residence under the pretext of conversation, where he subjected A.M. to prolonged violence to facilitate the transfer of the money.

Ultimately, in response to A.M.'s pleas, V.B. allowed him to leave his residence with the condition that the debt would be settled within two days.

On November 19, 2025, criminal prosecution was initiated against R.P., P.G., and G.H. under Article 322, Part 1 (granting or receiving a high rank in the criminal hierarchy) and Article 323, Part 2, Point 5 (creating or leading a criminal subculture group), while A.H. and V.B. were charged under Article 324, Part 1 (participating or involving oneself in a criminal subculture group). They were arrested on the same day for presentation before the court.

On November 20, 2025, simultaneous searches were conducted in the residences of the defendants and 10 individuals connected to them. The preliminary investigation of the criminal case is ongoing.

According to Radar Armenia, the