Criminal Subculture Group Revealed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The criminal police of Lori have uncovered a case involving participation in or engagement with a group bearing a criminal subculture. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“Officers of the Criminal Police of Lori received operational information about a month ago that two brothers from Vanadzor had created a criminal organization. They primarily recruited fellow city residents, assigned roles, and had been planning and committing robberies, residential thefts, and other crimes in Lori and other areas of the republic for a long time.

On March 3, after committing another crime, Lori criminal police stopped two vehicles, a 'Renault' and a 'Chevrolet,' in which the organizing brothers and five others were suspected of carrying out a residential theft. They were arrested and taken to the Lori regional police department. Stolen property from a house in the village of Arzhikhovit was found during personal searches of the vehicles and the suspects.

A criminal case has been initiated.

As a result of further operational and investigative measures, factual data were obtained indicating that an individual living abroad, who carries a criminal subculture, used the influence of the Vanadzor brothers. They contacted a resident of the village of Zolakhar in the Gegharkunik region, demanding the return of a debt of 300,000 Russian rubles or a vehicle.

The brothers acted according to the established behavior within the criminal subculture: they organized a gathering and provided explanations regarding the issue in exchange for taking 50 percent of the owed amount.

A criminal case has also been initiated in the Lori regional investigative department on the grounds of participating in or engaging with a group bearing a criminal subculture. The Vanadzor brothers are in custody, and the circumstances are being clarified during the preliminary investigation,” the statement said.