ArmInfo. Noteworthy details were revealed during the court session on the case of an armed gang defused by the National Security Service of Armenia in Yerevan's Nork- Marash in November 2015.
So, the lawyer of the ex-deputy minister of defense Vahan Shirkhanyan, Hayk Alumyan, passing through the case, in particular, stated that the testimony of the main accused, the leader of the gang Arthur Vardanyan and the defendant Father Anton, who is charged with financing the armed group, differ sharply. As explained by Alumyan, in his testimony Father Anton assured that initially the gang headed by Artur Vardanyan planned to carry out an armed coup in Armenia.
According to him, Vardanyan had several scenarios for the implementation of the coup, depending on the circumstances. "But the most realistic, in his opinion, was the beheading of the ruling elite in the country's parliament, since they are in the building of the National Assembly with a minimum number of guards," Father Anton said. He also said that Vardanyan planned to carry out the coup d'etat, or by securing the support of the then Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan, who with the help of the army would force President Serzh Sargsyan to resign, or without his support with his own forces, with the assistance of his armed group. It is noteworthy, Alumyan noted, that while both accused are guilty of the incriminating charges, Arthur Vardanyan completely refutes the testimony of Father Anton.
To note, in the case of the armed group, 20 accused are under trial, 12 are under arrest, 5 have signed a written undertaking not to leave the country, and 3 have made a pledge. The main accused is the head of the group Arthur Vardanyan. To note, during the investigation, 33 persons were initially brought to criminal responsibility, they were charged with creating and participating in a criminal group and illegal trafficking in arms and ammunition. Then, on June 8, 2016, the case against 4 persons was separated into a separate proceeding, the criminal prosecution was terminated against them. The accusation against 20 people continued (Arthur Vardanyan, Ara Poghosyan, Edward Nersisyan, Tigran Boyajyan, Vahagn Salnazaryan, Avetis Bareyan, Arthur Yeghiazaryan, Vaginak Stepanyan, Arman Hayrapetyan, Gevorg Dzhondoyan, Asya Mkrtchyan, Marina Katanyan, Nelly Minasyan, Anton Dikran Totonjyan, Khachik Avetisyan, Arkady Mardoyan, Harutyu Saribekyan, Vahan Shirkhanyan, Garnik Margaryan, Vladimir Arakelyan).
The criminal case was transferred to the court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash communities. The investigation into 9 persons continues. Investigative activities were conducted - interrogations, confrontations, searches. Based on the analysis of the data obtained, it was established that Arthur Vardanyan, having experience of participation in armed actions and having military skills, created a criminal group to seize power. Vardanyan was engaged in the formation of a criminal group since May 2015, involving Armenian citizens in it and providing them with weapons and ammunition.
On November 25, as a result of the operational and investigative measures taken by the SNB officers, the criminal group was uncovered and rendered harmless. A large number of ammunition, explosive and other materials, military uniforms, documents, etc. were seized and seized.