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Another two people have been detained as part of the case of the armed gang which was rendered harmless in Yerevan in late November, 2015, the press service of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) said.

According to a statement of NSS, the chairman o  Fatherland and Honor party Garnik Margaryan and the principal shareholder of Yeghvard Sport Shoes Factory Vladimir Arakelyan have been detained under Article 129 (detention of a person suspected in immediate commitment of crime) of the Criminal Procedure Code, on suspicion of participating in the criminal association set up by Arthur Vardanyan and the possession and sale of arms and ammunition  as members an organized group.

Those detained are suspected of crimes covered by the Criminal Code’s Article 223 parts 2  (participation in a criminal association) and Article 235 part 3 (illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices by an organized group).

“The apartments of the abovementioned men and the premises of Yeghvard Sport Shoes Factory were raided. All the necessary measures are being taken to conduct a full, comprehensive and objective investigation of the case. A preliminary investigation is underway,” the statement says.

To remind, on November 25, 2015 National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) arrested an organized criminal group that planned to commit a number of grave crimes in Armenia such as crimes against citizens, some branches of power, and state bodies. The Investigative Department of NSS opened a criminal case under the Criminal Code’s Article 223 parts 1 and 2 (creation or leadership of a criminal association, and participation in a criminal association) and Article 235 part 3 (illegal procurement, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices by an organized group). Arthur Vardanyan and over 20 members of the criminal group set up by him, including some women, were arrested. 

On December 19, 2015, ex-deputy defense minister of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanyan was detained as part of the investigation into the criminal case.  According to the press service of NSS, Shirkhanyan is suspected of participation in the criminal association created by Vardanyan.  Arrest was chosen as a measure of restraint against V. Shirkhanyan.