Deputy Chief of the Investigation Department of the NSS Mikayel Hambardzumyan at a press conference in Yerevan.
Armenia’s National Security forces raided a home in a suburb of Yerevan, uncovering a large cache of weapons and arresting 10 people on November 25. The NSS claimed that the armed group was preparing to commit a number of serious crimes, although the nature of those crimes weren’t disclosed initially.
Today, Mikayel Hambardzumyan, the Deputy Chief of the NSS Investigation Department held a press conference where he compared the alleged actions of the criminal group with the October 27 terrorist attack in the country’s National Assembly. In 1999, Nairi Hunanyan, along with five other armed assailants stormed Armenia’s parliament killing then Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan and Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchyan and six others.
“I can draw parallels to the crime committed by Nairi Hunanyan and his criminal group. If in that case we were dealing with a few people who were armed with several guns, then you can imagine what would have happened in this case, if this group succeeded in carrying out its intent. In other words, had these weapons, explosives, grenades been put to use,” Hambardzumyan said.
He said the group was disarmed just days before executing their crime. Security officials said the lease on the apartment they were renting had expired, but they had asked to stay a few more days.
Hambardzumyan categorically denied allegations that the raid and subsequent arrest of the criminal group by the NSS was staged.
“Imagine what a success it would have been if we had been able to expose Nairi Hunanyan’s group, let’s say three days prior to them carrying out the crime…In the same way, I think that then as now, there would have been people who would have said, ‘These are just young boys, what were they doing, simply keeping one or two guns,’” the official said.
Reacting to some claims that the actions taken by the NSS were politically motivated, Hambardzumyan said, “The NSS is an apolitical body independent from the influence of political parties and non-governmental organizations.”
According to the official, in terms of armaments, number of members, organization and severity of the planned crimes, the group’s capability to cause harm was unparalleled.
“The group was formed for the purposes of a specific crime. Each member had a role, each member became aware of his/her role and responsibilities,” he said, adding that the group has received tens of thousands of dollars in funding.
The NSS is currently trying to track the sources of that funding. “The money was given in the Republic of Armenia, but we have yet to identify the source of its origin,” Hambardzumyan said. “The members of the group, headed by Artur Vardanyan, took necessary measures to conceal the activities of the group; members were given secret phone numbers to keep in touch with each other.”
Hambardzumyan did not want to elaborate on how the group acquired the weapons. He said that ongoing efforts are being made in this regard.
Currently, 21 people have been detained in the case. Hambardzumyan said they are already receiving “incriminating evidence” related to the details of the crime.
Asked whether the group could be linked to the Islamic State, Hambardzumyan said that it was under consideration, noting that the group’s leader, Artur Vardanyan, had in fact traveled to Syria to participate in the liberation of the Armenian town of Kesab.
Hambardzumyan did not clarify who and what bodies were targeted by the group. “The crime was directed at civilians, politicians, public figures, separate branches of the state.”
