Epress.am News from Armenia
Yerevan Police Chief Nerses Nazaryan, in an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun), said that 16 people have been arrested in connection with a case that saw police bust a local crime ring late last week.
According to him, investigation into the case continues. So far, police have uncovered a large arsenal of weapons in the possession of the men. According to an earlier story by RFE/RL’s Armenian service, the men are accused of a series of daring robberies of homes belonging to wealthy government-linked individuals. Nazaryan said police continue to believe that the men arrested are part of the group that committed the robberies.
The armed attacks reported by the police targeted the Yerevan houses of five wealthy individuals, including a former parliament deputy and a former mayor of the city’s Malatia-Sebastia district. They reportedly followed the same pattern, with masked men breaking into the mansions early in the morning, beating up their owners and stealing cash and other valuables.
Recall, 13 people were arrested after police chased group members on the morning of Sept. 23 through the streets of Yerevan. In an attempt to flee, one of the men also pursued by police, climbed and nearby cliff and jumped to his death.