ArmInfo. Ex-defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan's name has appeared in the files on detention of a gang in Yerevan.
"Zhoghovurd" (People) newspaper reports, citing its own sources that when confronting with defendant, ex-deputy minister of defense Vahan Shirkhanyan, one of those involved in the case - clergyman Anton - said that "Seyran Ohanyan is behind all that case". In response, Shirkhanyan shouted that it was not true. Nevertheless, the clergyman stated that within the framework of the gang's activities, he was going to meet with Ohanyan. Shirkhanyan once again shouted that the testimony was false.
According to the newspaper's information, Shirkhanyan and Ohanyan were intending to create a Pan- Armenian Union of Officers, which would involve more than 10,000 officers of Armenian origin from all over the world. Ohanyan was to head the organization. However, he did not manage to put this idea in practice, because he was dismissed as defense minister after a new prime minister was appointed in Armenia.
To note, as a result of investigative measures taken by the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia, an organized criminal group intending to commit grave crimes in the territory of Armenia was disclosed on November 25, 2015. A citizen of Armenia Arthur Vardanyan, native of Yerevan, living in a foreign state, set up and managed a criminal group as soon as he arrived in Yerevan in 2015. According to preliminary agreement, the group illegally acquired weapons and ammunition. On November 25, the joint measures taken with the Armenian Police found arms and ammunition, explosives, communication facilities and other things. As many as 10 people were arrested, with 11 more arrested later. During a private hearing on November 27, the regular court of Kentron and Nork Marash administrative districts of Yerevan sustained the motion of the National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) to use arrest as a measure of restraint against the gang members detained in Yerevan. The NSS Investigative Department has instituted a criminal case based on Article 223 Parts 1 and 2 (creation of a criminal group or participation in a criminal community - imprisonment for 6-10 years), and Article 235 Part 3 (illegal acquisition, sale, keeping, transportation or bearing of weapons, ammunition, explosive compounds or explosive devices - imprisonment for 3-8 years) of the Armenian Criminal Code.