In Gyumri, an 'Authority' Intervened in a Dispute; Criminal Case Initiated

As part of the government's policy aimed at combating organized crime, on April 27, 2020, the Shirak province prosecutor instructed the head of the Shirak regional police department to investigate the potential occurrence of acts defined under Articles 223.1, 223.2, 223.3, and 223.4 of the Armenian Criminal Code in the region. This was reported by the RA Prosecutor General's Office.

Based on the directive, law enforcement activities have yielded factual evidence regarding a crime linked to participation in or involvement with organized crime groups. In particular, it was found that the debtor, upon learning from the bankruptcy trustee that a vehicle owned by him and mortgaged in a bank had been sold at auction to another person, contacted the buyer through mobile phone and offered to buy the vehicle back at a higher price, while attempting to meet with him.

However, after being rejected by the buyer, this individual sought assistance from the nephew of an 'Authority' (criminal leader) and a representative of the criminal underworld in Gyumri, intending to exploit his illegal influence for material or non-material benefits, including preventing the transfer of the vehicle to the buyer and retrieving it under the condition of a higher price.

Participating in the objectives pursued by the organized crime group, the 'Authority' used a mobile phone to call the winning bidder at the auction, attempting to meet with him to clarify matters regarding the vehicle purchased by him, particularly to return the vehicle to its former owner, which, however, was rejected by the buyer.

As a result of the prepared materials, the Deputy Prosecutor of Shirak province initiated a criminal case under Part 1 of Article 223.3 and Article 223.4 of the RA Criminal Code, and the case has been forwarded to the Shirak Regional Investigative Division of the RA Investigative Committee for further investigation.