Investigative Committee Presents Details on Arshak Srabazani's Case

During a briefing on the results of the main structural units of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, it was instructed to uncover, study, and actively investigate previously conducted and undisclosed criminal proceedings from past years. In this context, the Chief Directorate for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee has also reviewed the criminal proceeding initiated on July 20, 2018, under the first part of Article 266 of the former Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, concerning the illegal sale of marijuana by an unidentified person to H.A. at the reception of the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

As a result of the procedural and evidential actions carried out, the commission of the alleged crime was established. It was found that S.K. had reached a preliminary agreement with his subordinate, the deacon S.T., and an unidentified person, who, on July 7, 2018, illegally sold marijuana to participant H.A. in a complementary manner. According to S.K.'s instructions, S.T., the secretary of the reception hall, took a photograph of the backpack belonging to H.A. hanging at the reception with a mobile phone, then sent the obtained photo to S.K. via the Viber application. After that, the members of the criminal group placed marijuana in the said backpack, thus illegally selling marijuana to H.A. at the reception of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s Holy See.

After committing the criminal acts, S.T. called the Vagharshapat division of the Ararat Regional Department of the Police of Armenia from his phone at S.K.'s instruction and informed them about the possible presence of suspicious items with the participants of the action, sending the photo he took to the police officer. Following the search conducted by the police officers, marijuana, which had been illegally sold to H.A., was discovered in the backpack.

On December 4, 2025, a request was submitted to the supervising prosecutor overseeing the pre-trial proceedings for public criminal prosecution against S.K. under points 1 and 4 of the second part of Article 266 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, adopted on April 18, 2003 (corresponding to points 1 and 4 of the second part of Article 393 of the current Criminal Code). On the same day, the supervising prosecutor granted the request and a decision was made to initiate public criminal prosecution against S.K. He was arrested on December 4 for the purpose of being brought to court. A motion was filed to apply detention as a preventive measure, which was granted by the court. The pre-trial investigation of the criminal case continues. Necessary procedural and evidential actions are being undertaken to clarify the full circumstances of the case and to legally evaluate the acts of other participants.

Note: A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code, with a legally enforced court decision.