Criminal Investigation into Extortion of $10,000 in Prison Concluded

The investigation into the criminal case related to the extortion of $10,000 in a penal institution and participation in a criminal subculture has been completed by the General Department of the Criminal Investigation of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

During the investigation, factual data surfaced indicating that A.A., who is serving a sentence in the Armenian Ministry of Justice's 'Armavir' Penitentiary, reached a preliminary criminal agreement with H.D., also serving a sentence in the same facility, between June and October 2024. They aimed to instill fear and anxiety in another inmate, E.T., to compel him to fulfill property demands presented to him.

They portrayed themselves as individuals who could independently solve all issues and concerns arising among inmates. Following this, they coordinated their actions and demanded monetary payments from E.T. to implement the objectives of the criminal subculture, using threats of violence with a knife. During this period, they received substantial amounts, totaling approximately $10,000 equivalent.

Based on the decision of the supervising prosecutor, public criminal prosecution was initiated against A.A. and H.D. under Article 258, Part 2, Points 6, 8, and 10 of the Criminal Code (extortion committed by a group of individuals by prior agreement in a significant amount against a person serving a sentence in a penal facility) and Article 324, Part 3, Point 1 (participation or involvement in a criminal subculture by a person held in a penal institution). Detention was applied as a measure of restraint against them.

The criminal case has been forwarded to the supervising prosecutor with an indictment for approval and subsequent submission to the court.